Myelin inhibitors: does NO mean GO?

Regeneration beyond the glial scar

“…Furthermore, administration of IFNγ to lesioned brains increases the extent of glial scarring. After injury, the levels of FGF2 increase in both the brain and spinal cord 31,32 , and FGF2 has also been shown to increase astrocyte proliferation in culture 109 . It has been proposed that IFNγ and FGF2 modulate one another after injury, with IFNγ antagonizing the pro-mitogenic effects of FGF2 (REF.…”

“…This proposal, in conjunction with work from our laboratory demonstrating rapid axon regrowth from adult neurons in the presence of degenerating white matter 83,84 , as well as the differences between growth cone collapse and dystrophy, indicates that myelin might not be acting fundamentally to inhibit long-distance regeneration. In fact, it has even been suggested that myelin might facilitate axon growth under certain conditions 109 .…”

GM-CSF inhibits glial scar formation and shows long-term protective effect after spinal cord injury

“…Many studies have investigated to prevent or remove them, for example, by administration of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), an enzyme that selectively cleaves glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains from the protein core [5]. In addition to CSPGs, degenerating myelin debris is another source of inhibitory cause to endogenous cellular and axonal repairs after CNS injury [6]. Thus, the glial scar formation and inhibitory myelin debris will be a potential target to be regulated for the regeneration of injured CNS axons.…”

Effects of granulocyte colony–stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor on glial scar formation after spinal cord injury in rats

“…4,7 In addition, the degeneration of myelin debris inhibits axonal repair after CNS injury. 24 Therefore, glial scar formation and myelin debris are potential targets for studies seeking to regulate the regenerative capacity of the CNS.…”