Researchers at the University of Cambridge have announced the development of a bacterial enzyme called chondroitinase that can digest scar tissue, allowing for nerve regeneration to now take place.
The advancement will be especially helpful in spinal cord injuries, where a build-up of scar tissue often prevents nerve signals from passing through the spinal cord and limits research efforts in nerve regeneration. The researchers also claim that the enzyme promotes nerve plasticity, which is the ability of the nervous system to reorganize.
The research team's preliminary results have shown that the use of chonroitinase combined with rehabilitation is more effective than either alone. They have not yet used this treatment protocol in humans, and there were no details about how it was administered or if side effects occurred. Even so, this is an encouraging development in spinal cord injury research and potentially groundbreaking news.
For more information: “Spinal Injury Regeneration Hope,” BBC News, February 17, 2008.
