Carbohydrate Mimic Enhances Peripheral Nerve Repair in Mice

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Carbohydrate Mimic Enhances Peripheral Nerve Repair in Mice

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/548358?src=mp

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 28 - Application of a functional mimic

of a human natural killer (HNK) cell glycan to the severed femoral

nerves in mice results in restoration of near-normal function,

German scientists report in the October issue of the ls of

Neurology.

Dr. Melitta Schachner of the Hamburg University and colleagues have

identified a " molecular cue " in an acidic glycan of HNK, known as

HNK-1 epitope, that is involved in motor nerve reinnervation.

The researchers say the glycan is found in the myelin profiles of

motor neurons but is not present on sensory neurons.

In vitro experiments have shown that motor neurons coated with HNK-1

carbohydrate have an acceleration of neurite outgrowth.

Dr. Schachner and colleagues applied cuffs coated with HNK-1

peptide, a scrambled peptide or a vehicle substrate to the severed

femoral nerves of adult mice.

Quadriceps muscle function recovered to 93% of normal with

application of HNK-1 compared with recovery of 71% or 76% with the

scrambled peptide or the control substrate, respectively.

" Application of glycomimetics or, possibly, small organic compounds

mimicking the structure of the HNK-1 glycan, during nerve repair in

humans is feasible, " the investigators write. Therapeutic

applications " are relevant to injuries of the peripheral nerves in

general rather than being limited to the femoral nerve. "

Ann Neurol 2006;60:430-437.