Researchers have recently identified a potentially effective treatment for spinal cord injuries (SCIs), which pose a significant challenge in the medical field due to the lack of effective therapies. The neural stem cells (NSCs), which migrate to SCI sites, offer a ray of hope for nerve regeneration. Studies indicate that salidroside, a small molecule, can enhance this intrinsic repair mechanism by improving motor function recovery in SCI mice and facilitating NSCs migration towards the injured region.
Experiments have shown that salidroside treatment in mice leads to better nerve regeneration, myelin reconstitution, and suppression of neurotoxic A1 astrocyte activation, which are harmful to nerve cells. Salidroside acts by inhibiting the proliferation of astrocytes and their polarization into neurotoxic A1 forms, contributing to NSCs’ proliferation and differentiation into neurons rather than astrocytes.
Key findings suggest that salidroside regulates the inflammatory response, cell proliferation, and differentiation processes by modulating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways. The substance showcases its potential as a therapeutic agent not only by preventing early inflammation but also by improving the spinal cord microenvironment during the later stages of SCI, where regeneration and repair are crucial.
Source: Nature.com