Zebrafish have the ability to heal their own spinal cord after it has been severed which is definitely not something humans are capable of. Researchers at Duke found the specific protein that plays a major role in this process. This discovery can be a major one towards applying it to people. When the fish's spinal cord is severed, a bridge is formed. First wells extend and connect the gap then nerve cells follow. By 8 weeks the injury is completely healed and the fish has its normal capabilities again. To determine which genes were changed, the scientists monitored the activity of the genes that had large changes once damage was done to the spinal cord. CTGF or connective tissue growth factor is a gene coded for proteins that is secreted from cells. The levels of this rose in the cells that formed the bridge. When CTGF was deleted, the fish were not able to regenerate. The human CTGF protein is extremely similar (almost 90%) in the amino acid make up to the zebra fish. When human CTGF was added to the fish, regeneration was faster. Since healing is more complex in mammals due to the scar tissue, the scientists do not think CTGF alone is sufficient enough to regenerate in people. The next step mice and when the CTGF levels are the highest. At this point, the scientists are believing that it is how the protein is controlled and not the actual make up.
Read more at: https://today.duke.edu/2016/11/scientists-find-key-protein-spinal-cord-repair
This is a pretty exciting concept. Further research into this would be a huge step in helping people with spinal cord injuries regain their ability to walk, and I think that would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis is really exciting! As Madeline says, it would be a huge step in helping people to walk after these type of injuries. Is CTGF just expressed when there is spinal cord damage or wherever there is tissue damage? Also, do fish not have scar tissue? lol
ReplyDeleteI actually couldn't find anything on whether or not fish do have scar tissue. Through this research on scar tissue however, I found out that the glial cells in mammals cause scarring in the CNS but glial cells in fish are responsible for the bridge that connects the broken spinal cord. The glial scarring in mammals is a roadblock for spinal cord repair. CTFG actually plays a role in multiple biological processes such as wound repair, cell adhesion, and skeletal development. So, CTFG is expressed wherever there is damage.
DeleteI did a blog recently that had a similar concept where humans were able to artificially repair severed spines. It's really amazing that these fish are able to do this type of repair naturally.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a huge step in the rehabilitation of spinal injuries. Some of the qualities animals and rodents contain never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what advances can be made in the future with this knowledge. The CTGF protein is interesting because it is found in the fish and in humans and other mammals. The connective tissue growth factor is interesting because it is a cell adhesion that help regenerate. I hope that soon we can find a way to regenerate like a zebrafish because it will be very beneficial for people with spinal injuries.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a great step for the medical field if they can initiate spinal cord repair in humans. If they are able to repair the human spinal cord it may help patients who are paralyzed regain some of their mobility.
ReplyDeleteI think Javier's question needs answering. Developmentally humans aren't especially complex compared to fish. Why is scar tissue a particular problem.
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