Fusogenic therapy restored spinal cord function after complete transection.

What is it about?

Currently, spinal cord injury is considered incurable in clinical practice. Following severe injury, mammalian axons rapidly degenerate, edema develops, neurons die, and a scar-like cystic tissue transformation occurs at the injury site. Central to this new approach are fusogens—substances capable of inducing the fusion of damaged cell membranes. Unlike traditional regenerative strategies based on prolonged axonal growth or the generation of new neurons, the fusogenic concept focuses on the immediate restoration of membrane continuity in damaged axons. This mechanism is energetically efficient and occurs naturally in various animals, whereas in higher mammals, it can be artificially induced using synthetic compounds. In this study, experimental pigs—serving as a model closely resembling humans—underwent a complete transverse spinal cord transection at the thoracic level, followed by spinal fixation using a titanium construct. In the experimental group, Neuro-PEG was applied directly to the injury site, and an additional fusogen was administered intravenously; control animals received no fusogenic therapy. The postoperative period lasted 60 days and included a comprehensive rehabilitation program. In animals receiving fusogenic treatment, limb sensation began to return as early as the second day post-surgery; bladder control was restored by the fifth day; and by the second week, all animals in the experimental group demonstrated active hind-limb movements and attempts to stand. By the end of the observation period, they were able to move independently on all four limbs, although an unsteady gait persisted. In the control group, lower-body paraplegia, a lack of sensation, and pronounced pelvic function impairment persisted throughout the experiment. Morphological findings correlated with the functional results. Samples from the experimental group revealed axons crossing the injury site—demonstrated via NF-200 immunofluorescence microscopy and confirmed by FluoroGold retrograde tracing. Control samples were dominated by degenerative post-traumatic changes, including cystic-scar tissue remodeling.

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Photo by César Badilla Miranda on Unsplash

Photo by César Badilla Miranda on Unsplash

Why is it important?

While modern clinical methods allow for spinal stabilization and the mitigation of secondary damage, no reliable method for restoring lost functions yet exists. Each year, approximately 500,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries, with the majority becoming disabled. Approximately 27 million people worldwide live with a disability resulting from spinal cord injury. Annually, the number of new cases reaches 8,000 in Russia, between 10,000 and 20,000 in the United States, up to 60,000 in China. These injuries are more common among the working-age population. In addition to drastically reducing a patients’ quality of life, spinal cord injuries impose a significant economic burden, making the search for an effective treatment method imperative. The fundamental innovation of the study lies in the fact that fusogenic therapy is presented not as an isolated molecule, but as a technological platform. It integrates fusogenic agents, a controlled surgical technique, spinal stabilization, perioperative neuroprotection, postoperative care, and multimodal rehabilitation. It is precisely this combination that may be critical for recovery following a complete spinal cord injury. The core concept is a comprehensive bioengineering approach.

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