Discovery reveals adult brain's hidden ability to rebuild damaged networks
Researchers at the University of Zurich identified a special class of astrocytes that can repair injured brain tissue by transporting newly formed nuclei into damaged areas.
A study led by Marina Herwerth and Matthias Wyss at the University of Zurich's Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology uncovered a previously unknown repair mechanism in adult mouse brains. Specialized astrocytes cluster around damaged zones and, rather than moving whole cells, convey newly created nuclei through their long processes to the injury site, effectively knitting the astrocyte network back together. Real-time two-photon imaging and gene-activity profiling allowed the team to pinpoint these regenerative cells and track the repair over several weeks.
The findings challenge the long-standing belief that lost astrocytes cannot be replaced in adulthood. Additionally, the researchers identified transiently activated genes and signaling routes that could be exploited to boost regeneration after brain injuries or diseases such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The work, published in Nature Neuroscience, opens new avenues for therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing brain repair.
Why it matters
Understanding how the adult brain can self-repair may lead to treatments that improve recovery from injuries and certain neurological diseases.
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