Researchers identify molecular process that could accelerate recovery from nerve injuries

Good news (from Oct. 2019)!

"Twenty million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve injuries ... These injuries can have a devastating impact on quality of life, resulting in loss of sensation, motor function and long-lasting nerve pain. ... Now, researchers ... have discovered a molecular process that controls the rate at which nerves grow both during embryonic development and recovery from injury throughout life.  ... In a 2010 study in mice, ... discovered they could control the rate at which nerves grow in the spinal cord during embryonic development by manipulating the activity of a gene called LIM domain kinase 1, or Limk1. Limk1 controls the rate of nerve growth by regulating the activity of a protein called cofilin. Cofilin plays a key role in a process known as actin polymerization, or “treadmilling,” which enables nerves to extend thread-like projections over long distances to form neural networks. ... new paper builds on these findings by showing that Limk1 and cofilin also control the rate of growth of peripheral nerves during both development and regeneration."

Researchers identify molecular process that could accelerate recovery from nerve injuries | UCLA: Findings of the research conducted in mice could inform the development of therapies that reduce the time it takes for people to recover from nerve injuries.