人类脊髓损伤类器官模型发布 为测试新型再生疗法提供高效平台

Core Insights - Northwestern University scientists have developed the most advanced human spinal cord injury organoid model to date, which accurately simulates key pathological features of spinal cord injuries and provides an efficient platform for testing new regenerative therapies [1][2] - The organoid model replicates typical changes after injury, including cell death, inflammatory responses, and glial scar formation, which has long been considered a major barrier to nerve regeneration [1] Group 1: Organoid Model Development - The spinal cord organoid can reach several millimeters in diameter and possesses high maturity and complexity, containing neurons, astrocytes, and central nervous system immune cells, allowing for a more realistic simulation of inflammatory responses during injury [2] - The team simulated different types of spinal cord injuries through physical cutting to mimic lacerations and compression to simulate contusions, both of which induced pathological changes consistent with real injuries [2] Group 2: "Jumping Molecule" Therapy - The "jumping molecule" therapy is part of a supramolecular therapeutic peptide platform, enhancing interactions with cell receptors through molecular dynamic motion [2] - After injection, the material self-assembles into a nanofiber network that mimics the extracellular matrix structure of spinal cord cells, reducing inflammation, decreasing glial scars, and promoting orderly extension and growth of neurons, which is crucial for reconstructing interrupted neural connections [2] - The mobility of the molecules is a key factor for the therapy's effectiveness, as control experiments showed that less mobile molecules did not induce similar regenerative effects, providing important insights into the therapy's mechanism of action [2]