An epigenetic mechanism for regenerating axons
Functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited by lack of axon regeneration in the mature nervous system. However, recent data showed that increasing neuronal activity promoted axonal regeneration after SCI in rodents. In a new study, Hutson et al. investigated the mechanisms mediating activity-dependent neuronal response in rodent models of spinal cord injury. Increasing neuronal activity using chemical or behavioral approaches promoted recovery through Creb-binding protein (Cbp)–mediated histone acetylation, and using a small-molecule Cbp activator mimicked the effects of increasing neuronal activity. This epigenetic mechanism might be exploited for enhancing repair and functional recovery after SCI.
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