Alain Privat´s science team discover how to activate regeneration in the spinal cord.

Mike C · 07-10-2003, 06:26 AM

I think Kim was trying to find out more information about a new discovery involving Alain Privat from the Inserm Institute, which has also been announced on ARD Videotext (Page 544), but the link she gave came up with a 2001 publication.

I have looked for more news on the internet, but have not found anything. Here is what has been written so far:
---------------------------------------------
Hoffnung für Querschnittslähmung
(Hope for Paralysis)

Mit gentechnischen Eingriffen an Mäusen haben französische Forscher möglicherweise eine neue Therapieform zur Behandlung von Querschnittslähmungen erschlossen.

(Using gene therapy procedures on mice, french scientists have possibly found a new therapy for paralysis.)

Ein Team von Wissenschaftlern um Alain Privat vom Inserm-Institut in Montpellier stellte zunächst fest, warum der an sonstigen Körperstellen übliche Heilungsmechanismus bei Verletzungen des Rückenmarks nicht funktioniert.

(A team of scientists led by Alain Privat from the Inserm-Institute in Montpellier have determined why, unlike by other parts of the body, when the spinal cord is damaged, regeneration does not function.)

Dann gelang es im Mäuse-Versuch, mit gentechnischen Veränderungen die Heilung herbeizuführen.

(Experimenting on mice with gene therapy, the team was able to activate healing in the spinal cord region.)

-----------------------------------------------

This is a very recent announcement, and the study must surely be published. As you can imagine, this story drives people with SCI up the wall because of the lack of specific information and the thousands of questions it raises. Perhaps Wise or Max could hunt down the study and post it? This sounds like a very big discovery.

"So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

Steven Edwards · 07-10-2003, 07:11 AM

Here's one that sounds close...

Quote:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
Glia. 2003 Jul;43(1):91-3.
Astrocytes as support for axonal regeneration in the central nervous system of mammals.

Privat A.

Inserm U583, Montpellier, France. u336@univ-montp2.fr

Reactive astrocytes are one of the main impediments for axonal regeneration in the central nervous system of mammals. Using mice KO for GFAP and vimentin, we show that reinnervation occurs after an hemisection of the spinal cord, mainly through sprouting of controlateral intact serotoninergic and cortico-spinal axons, thanks to the absence of glial reactivity. This reinnervation is paralleled by the restoration of impaired locomotion of the ipselateral hindleg. Future applications to spinal cord injured patients are discussed. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 12761872 [PubMed - in process]

Full text available here.

-Steven

KIM · 07-10-2003, 10:30 AM

it´s HE

Schmeky · 07-10-2003, 10:35 AM

So, what does this mean? Another 10 years of lab studies? What say you DA? Rats around the world are enjoying recovery. Im' buying a big rat suit. . . .

KIM · 07-10-2003, 11:01 AM

MORE FROM MR. KIM:
- First advanced towards the recovery of walk in mice whose spinal cord was divided -- - - - - The lesions of the spinal cord responsible for the loss of the driving function are irreversible. That is allotted to the fact that the neurons do not manage to regenerate their termination axonale. The team of Alain Privat (unit Inserm 583, Montpellier) identified the cause of this not-regeneration of the spinal cord after section: the surexpression of two proteins in the astrocytes * resulting in the formation from an impenetrable scar. Thanks to models of transgenic mice, deprived of genes ensuring the synthesis of these two proteins, the regeneration of the axons and thus the recovery of the driving function were made possible. This work is published in the edition on line of July 8 of "Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the the USA". In France, one counts today more than 40 000 paraplegic and tetraplegic and each year, the road accidents, diving or other professional falls are responsible for 1 500 new cases of driving handicaps. At the time of these accidents, the traumatic lesions of the spinal cord cause the loss of the permanent voluntary motor activity. This is due to the fact that the terminations axonales of the damaged neurons which lead the nerve impulse coming from the brain and order walk, are not regenerated. There is about thirty years, neuronal regeneration was regarded as impossible in the central, but probable nervous system in the peripheral nervous system. Ten years later, of the researchers showed that the astrocytes or cells gliales * constituted a nonpermissive medium with pushes back axons. Since, many work seeks to restore the locomotion by reconnectant the two ends of the injured spinal cord, up to now without success. Researchers of the unit Inserm 583 in Montpellier, suggested that the regeneration of the axons is prevented by the formation of a scar. This one is due to a gliose astrocytaire. There are increase and accumulation of cells gliales which surexpriment two proteins (the GFAP - Glial Fribillary Acidic Protein - and Vimentin), constituting a kind of impenetrable netting, a hostile environment with regeneration axonale. To check this assumption, the montpelliéraine team sought to block the formation of this scar. The researchers worked out three models of transgenic mice whose genes ensuring the synthesis of these proteins were inactivated: the first group having only gene of the inactivated GFAP, the second that of Vimentin and a last group having two inactivated genes. The researchers then observed, after a lumbar hémisection involving a paralysis of the rear limb corresponding, the behaviors of these mice by comparing them with pilot mice, without change. Whereas these witnesses present a very significant scar, there does not exist pushes back axonale and the test of walk on a grid is negative (the leg falls), the transgenic mice having only one inactivated gene do not present pushes back axonale and do not recover either a locomotor function. On the other hand, the transgenic mice carrying the two changes do not develop a scar and recover a locomotor function. These animals presented a reduction of the reactivity of the astrocytes, associated an increase in the budding of the supraspinaux axons, going until the reconstitution of the circuits leading to functional recovery. These results constitute a "proof of principle" on which can develop an original therapeutic strategy, not only in the traumatic lesions of the central nervous system at the man but in all the pathological processes which involve an obstructive gliose reactional, which is the case of the neurodégénératives diseases like the Parkinson's disease.

DA · 07-10-2003, 11:12 AM

every year for the past 7 years several times a year the FIRST rats walk after sci. it works well because the sci community does not demand more. toby gonna be good slave.

Faye · 07-10-2003, 05:43 PM

Schmeky,
The rat suits are a great idea for a publicity stunt to encourage more funding away from basic research to fast-track clinical application.
We wouldn't even need hundreds of people in wheelchairs to make our point. A few of us would do in such a eye catching media friendly setting to bring attention to the unbearable wait placed on so many lives. What do you say? When and where?

Jeremy · 07-10-2003, 06:38 PM

DA, every time I read news on a cure for spinal cord injures it's like I'm in the SCI movie version of "Ground Hog Day" it just keeps going around and around and around, there's no end to it. 21 years of this SH!T and still nothing!

"WAKE ME UP WHEN IT'S OVER !!!"

Wise Young · 07-10-2003, 07:51 PM

I posted some abstracts of the papers in the following topic

Schmeky · 07-11-2003, 08:19 AM

Really, what's the point!

Hemisection injury model (that does not represent a "true" injury model) and genetically modified rats (it may take "several" years to grow some humans to benefit from this study). I know some good will be gleaned from this, but other clinicians have demonstrated recovered rats for years.

Where is that collaboration thingee' when you need it! Viva la France!!

07-10-2003, 06:26 AM	#1
Mike C Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deutschland Posts: 4,894	Alain Privat´s science team discover how to activate regeneration in the spinal cord. I think Kim was trying to find out more information about a new discovery involving Alain Privat from the Inserm Institute, which has also been announced on ARD Videotext (Page 544), but the link she gave came up with a 2001 publication. I have looked for more news on the internet, but have not found anything. Here is what has been written so far: --------------------------------------------- Hoffnung für Querschnittslähmung (Hope for Paralysis) Mit gentechnischen Eingriffen an Mäusen haben französische Forscher möglicherweise eine neue Therapieform zur Behandlung von Querschnittslähmungen erschlossen. (Using gene therapy procedures on mice, french scientists have possibly found a new therapy for paralysis.) Ein Team von Wissenschaftlern um Alain Privat vom Inserm-Institut in Montpellier stellte zunächst fest, warum der an sonstigen Körperstellen übliche Heilungsmechanismus bei Verletzungen des Rückenmarks nicht funktioniert. (A team of scientists led by Alain Privat from the Inserm-Institute in Montpellier have determined why, unlike by other parts of the body, when the spinal cord is damaged, regeneration does not function.) Dann gelang es im Mäuse-Versuch, mit gentechnischen Veränderungen die Heilung herbeizuführen. (Experimenting on mice with gene therapy, the team was able to activate healing in the spinal cord region.) ----------------------------------------------- This is a very recent announcement, and the study must surely be published. As you can imagine, this story drives people with SCI up the wall because of the lack of specific information and the thousands of questions it raises. Perhaps Wise or Max could hunt down the study and post it? This sounds like a very big discovery. "So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-10-2003, 10:30 AM	#3
KIM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SPAIN Posts: 835	it´s HE

07-10-2003, 10:35 AM	#4
Schmeky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: West Monroe, LA, USA Posts: 3,398	So, what does this mean? Another 10 years of lab studies? What say you DA? Rats around the world are enjoying recovery. Im' buying a big rat suit. . . .

07-10-2003, 11:01 AM	#5
KIM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SPAIN Posts: 835	MORE FROM MR. KIM: - First advanced towards the recovery of walk in mice whose spinal cord was divided -- - - - - The lesions of the spinal cord responsible for the loss of the driving function are irreversible. That is allotted to the fact that the neurons do not manage to regenerate their termination axonale. The team of Alain Privat (unit Inserm 583, Montpellier) identified the cause of this not-regeneration of the spinal cord after section: the surexpression of two proteins in the astrocytes * resulting in the formation from an impenetrable scar. Thanks to models of transgenic mice, deprived of genes ensuring the synthesis of these two proteins, the regeneration of the axons and thus the recovery of the driving function were made possible. This work is published in the edition on line of July 8 of "Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the the USA". In France, one counts today more than 40 000 paraplegic and tetraplegic and each year, the road accidents, diving or other professional falls are responsible for 1 500 new cases of driving handicaps. At the time of these accidents, the traumatic lesions of the spinal cord cause the loss of the permanent voluntary motor activity. This is due to the fact that the terminations axonales of the damaged neurons which lead the nerve impulse coming from the brain and order walk, are not regenerated. There is about thirty years, neuronal regeneration was regarded as impossible in the central, but probable nervous system in the peripheral nervous system. Ten years later, of the researchers showed that the astrocytes or cells gliales * constituted a nonpermissive medium with pushes back axons. Since, many work seeks to restore the locomotion by reconnectant the two ends of the injured spinal cord, up to now without success. Researchers of the unit Inserm 583 in Montpellier, suggested that the regeneration of the axons is prevented by the formation of a scar. This one is due to a gliose astrocytaire. There are increase and accumulation of cells gliales which surexpriment two proteins (the GFAP - Glial Fribillary Acidic Protein - and Vimentin), constituting a kind of impenetrable netting, a hostile environment with regeneration axonale. To check this assumption, the montpelliéraine team sought to block the formation of this scar. The researchers worked out three models of transgenic mice whose genes ensuring the synthesis of these proteins were inactivated: the first group having only gene of the inactivated GFAP, the second that of Vimentin and a last group having two inactivated genes. The researchers then observed, after a lumbar hémisection involving a paralysis of the rear limb corresponding, the behaviors of these mice by comparing them with pilot mice, without change. Whereas these witnesses present a very significant scar, there does not exist pushes back axonale and the test of walk on a grid is negative (the leg falls), the transgenic mice having only one inactivated gene do not present pushes back axonale and do not recover either a locomotor function. On the other hand, the transgenic mice carrying the two changes do not develop a scar and recover a locomotor function. These animals presented a reduction of the reactivity of the astrocytes, associated an increase in the budding of the supraspinaux axons, going until the reconstitution of the circuits leading to functional recovery. These results constitute a "proof of principle" on which can develop an original therapeutic strategy, not only in the traumatic lesions of the central nervous system at the man but in all the pathological processes which involve an obstructive gliose reactional, which is the case of the neurodégénératives diseases like the Parkinson's disease.

07-10-2003, 11:12 AM	#6
DA Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: beaumont tx usa Posts: 32,390	every year for the past 7 years several times a year the FIRST rats walk after sci. it works well because the sci community does not demand more. toby gonna be good slave.

07-10-2003, 05:43 PM	#7
Faye Banned Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 6,840	Schmeky, The rat suits are a great idea for a publicity stunt to encourage more funding away from basic research to fast-track clinical application. We wouldn't even need hundreds of people in wheelchairs to make our point. A few of us would do in such a eye catching media friendly setting to bring attention to the unbearable wait placed on so many lives. What do you say? When and where?

07-10-2003, 06:38 PM	#8
Jeremy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 588	DA, every time I read news on a cure for spinal cord injures it's like I'm in the SCI movie version of "Ground Hog Day" it just keeps going around and around and around, there's no end to it. 21 years of this SH!T and still nothing! "WAKE ME UP WHEN IT'S OVER !!!"

07-10-2003, 07:51 PM	#9
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,975	I posted some abstracts of the papers in the following topic

07-11-2003, 08:19 AM	#10
Schmeky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: West Monroe, LA, USA Posts: 3,398	Really, what's the point! Hemisection injury model (that does not represent a "true" injury model) and genetically modified rats (it may take "several" years to grow some humans to benefit from this study). I know some good will be gleaned from this, but other clinicians have demonstrated recovered rats for years. Where is that collaboration thingee' when you need it! Viva la France!!