Gene Therapy Regenerates Paralyzed Mice Spinal Cords Enabling Them To Walk Again

A ground-breaking study has given paralyzed mice the ability to walk again, providing hope to some 5.4 million people worldwide who suffer with paralysis.

Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany stimulated the mice's damaged spinal cord nerves to regenerate using a designer protein.

The paralyzed rodents had lost mobility in both hind legs, but after receiving the treatment began walking in just two to three weeks.

The team induced nerve cells of the motor-sensory cortex to produce hyper-interleukin-6.

To do so, they injected genetically engineered viruses to 'deliver the blueprint for the production of the protein to specific nerve cells.'

Researchers are now exploring whether hyper-interleukin-6 still has positive effects in mice, even if the injury occurred several weeks previously, which will allow them to determine if the treatment is ready for human trials.

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