Israeli Scientists Find a Simple Way to Recover from Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries can lead to irreversible changes, including decreased muscle function, strength, and sensitivity, as well as disruption of many other bodily functions involving the spine. The chances of complete recovery from spinal cord injuries are extremely low, and the process is long and complicated, even with intensive rehabilitation, especially if treatment is not administered in a timely manner.

In a new study, the results of which were recently published in the specialized medical journal Neurotrauma, Israeli scientists from Tel Aviv University proposed a simple way to quickly and without complications address the consequences of spinal cord injury and reduce the risk of inflammation and scarring. This involves administering an injection based on an active enzyme into the spinal cord within a few hours after the injury.

The study was led by Dr. Angela Ruban and Dr. Yonah Goldsmith from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. According to them, the main idea of the proposed method is to block the body's natural response to spinal cord injury as quickly as possible, thereby reducing the likelihood of secondary damage. "Primary mechanical damage to spinal cord tissues leads to the death of a certain number of neurons. However, the situation worsens due to the release of excessive amounts of glutamate, resulting in additional functional impairments," says Dr. Goldsmith. "Preventing these is precisely the goal of the injection we developed."

"We found that administering the enzyme temporarily reduces elevated levels of glutamine in the blood, altering the balance of its concentration between the brain and the blood," adds Dr. Ruban. However, she warns that this is a very delicate situation: "When you try to affect the central nervous system, you must be extremely careful, as there is a risk of developing unwanted side effects."

The scientists tested their method on laboratory mice – after a five-day treatment course, the rodents showed significant improvement following spinal cord injury. "The therapy increased neuron survival in the affected area and initiated the process of axon regeneration (the extensions of nerve cells that conduct impulses to other nerve cells and organs), leading to substantial recovery of functions lost due to injury compared to mice that did not receive treatment," says Dr. Ruban. "This indicates that the drug we invented may have neuroprotective effects and create conditions for restoring impaired functions."

No Need to Wait

Scientists note that their research demonstrated that injuries to the nervous system, in this case, spinal cord injury, which can likely lead to lifelong disability or even death, provoke an immediate increase in extracellular glutamate levels in the body, which causes inflammation, scarring, and neuron death.

According to Angela Ruban, the main message of their findings is to act immediately, without waiting for a diagnosis or the start of treatment. "It's like with aspirin, which can save a heart patient from irreversible consequences if taken within the first few hours after a heart attack. We recommend administering the injection even in cases of undiagnosed conditions. It will not cause side effects, but will help mitigate the consequences of secondary spinal cord damage and significantly improve a person's quality of life," she adds. "When this drug becomes available to emergency physicians, the negative consequences of injuries can be significantly reduced."

The scientists emphasize that the main goal of the injection is to reduce the amount of glutamate released immediately after spinal cord injury. If the drug is administered in time, it can alleviate the inflammatory process and slow down scarring, thereby reducing tissue damage and ensuring neuron survival.

First Discovery

The method of absorbing excess glutamate in the blood was developed by Ruban in collaboration with the late professor from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Vivian Taichberg, back in 2006 to control levels of this substance in patients with glioblastoma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other diseases. At that time, they did not consider it as a treatment for spinal cord injuries, focusing on treating other neurological pathologies. The use of the new approach in spinal injury therapy was studied later in a separate investigation.

When asked why they waited so long, Dr. Ruban explains that the reason lies in the nature of researchers. "Our method, based on enzyme administration, then seemed too simple and quick a solution to such a complex problem as spinal cord injury," she explains. "And when you, as a scientist, find some simple solution, your colleagues immediately argue that it is too obvious, so it won't work."

"It is in the nature of researchers to seek more complex paths," she says. "But in the end, it turns out that this simple solution is the only one that works."