The Extracellular Matrix Glycoprotein Tenascin-C Is Beneficial for Spinal Cord Regeneration

This study investigates the role of Tenascin-C (TNC), a component of the extracellular matrix, in spinal cord injury recovery. The research compares recovery in TNC-deficient mice (TNC–/–) versus wild-type mice (TNC+/+) after spinal cord injury. The study found that TNC-deficient mice showed impaired locomotor recovery compared to wild-type mice, indicating TNC's importance in the recovery process. The impaired recovery was associated with reduced nerve excitability and reduced sprouting of certain nerve fibers. Introducing a specific component of TNC (fnD) through viral delivery improved locomotor recovery in wild-type mice. This suggests that TNC and its components have the potential to be used as a therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury.

• 1
  TNC-deficient mice exhibit impaired locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury compared to wild-type mice.
• 2
  Impaired recovery in TNC-deficient mice is associated with attenuated excitability of the plantar Hoffmann reflex and reduced glutamatergic input.
• 3
  Overexpression of TNC-fnD via adeno-associated virus in wild-type mice improved locomotor recovery and increased monaminergic axons sprouting.