Targeting the Nogo receptor to treat central nervous system injuries.

Abstract

Axonal damage is a key pathology in many injuries of the central nervous system (CNS), such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and stroke, as well as in multiple sclerosis. An attractive drug discovery strategy to treat such conditions is to search for agents that promote CNS axonal regeneration. Historically, limited knowledge concerning the basis of poor CNS regeneration has precluded a rational drug discovery approach for promoting axonal regeneration. The recent identification of the Nogo receptor, which interacts with inhibitory myelin protein, established the crucial role of this molecular pathway in mediating the inhibitory effects of CNS myelin. This provides an unprecedented opportunity to manipulate adult CNS axonal regeneration. The development of therapeutics targeting the Nogo receptor has the potential to promote functional recovery and reverse the devastating consequences of CNS injuries.