科大突破性研究成果為慢性脊髓損傷患者帶來喜訊
科大研究團隊最近發現刺激神經軸突(axons)再生的方法,可望為慢性脊髓損傷治療打開新一頁。
脊髓損傷令大量受損神經軸突難以跨越損傷組織,特別是皮質脊髓束。慢性脊髓損傷病人往往喪失活動能力甚至癱瘓,嚴重影響日常生活。
在科大生命科學部助理教授劉凱領導下,研究團隊先為老鼠進行錐體束切斷術(pyramidotomy),然後剔除其體內的PTEN基因。此外,研究人員亦在脊髓嚴重損傷4個月和12個月的老鼠身上進行相同程序。
研究團隊在三組樣本身上均發現皮質脊髓束展現再生的反應,顯示即使損傷已維持一段時間,若剔除PTEN基因,仍可刺激皮質脊髓束再生。
劉教授表示,與急性損傷比較,慢性損傷的皮質脊髓束較難出現再生。儘管困難重重,但藉著嶄新療法,皮質脊髓束即使在受損一年後仍可再生,令團隊大感意外。
劉教授指出︰「認識到慢性受損的神經細胞仍有再生軸突和重建初步突觸連接(synaptic connections)的能力,實在是一項重大發現。抑制PTEN基因的治療可針對特定的神經細胞進行,亦即是說,我們可在日後研究中將程序具體應用於目標部位。」
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