Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS

Published 30. 11. 2022

We would like to invite you to the next institutional seminar of the IEM CAS, this time on the topic of Reconstruction of the spinal sensory pathway using integrins. 

Lecturer:
Mgr. Kateřina Štěpánková / Department of Neuroregeneration

Annotation:
Spinal cord injury (SCI), a lifelong disability, remains an unsolved problem not only due to glial scar forming a physical barrier around the lesion site but also due to the limited intrinsic capacity of axon regeneration. One of the main ECM inhibitory molecules upregulated after spinal cord injury is Tenascin-C. However, after SCI, there is lack of an integrin α9 that interacts with tenascin-C, and thus is involved in axonal guidance during development. Integrin α9 needs an activator kindlin 1, which prevents an integrin inactivation by inhibitory molecules. The aim of this project was to achieve sensory axon regeneration in animals with dorsal column crush lesion using viral vector delivery of the relevant genes (integrin α9 and kindlin 1) to the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). After 13 weeks of viral expression, axons regenerated through the tenascin-C-rich lesion site into the dorsal column up to the medulla. Animals also showed anatomical and functional evidence of reconnection to the dorsal horn and behavioural recovery.

1^st December 2022 / 14:00 / Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM

Due to the epidemiological situation, we recommend respiratory protection with an FFP2 respirator. Protect yourself and the others around you.

We look forward to meeting you.