Turning scar-forming cells into neurons helps restore movement after spinal cord injury
Researchers have developed a genetic system called TRANsCre-DIONE that converts scar-forming cells into neurons to help repair spinal cord injuries. While successful in animal models, the technique has not yet been tested in humans.
Why it matters
This represents a significant potential breakthrough in regenerative medicine for treating permanent paralysis and nerve damage.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Graphical abstract. Credit: Experimental & Molecular Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s12276-026-01815-y What if cells that form scars after a spinal cord injury could become part of the repair process? Researchers have developed a genetic system that converts certain scar-forming cells into neurons, improving movement in mice and rats with spinal cord injuries.
A joint research team led by C. Justin Lee, director of the Center for Memory and Glioscience at the Institute for Basic Science, and Ha Yoon, a professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine, developed TRANsCre-DIONE, a system designed to selectively convert reactive astrocytes at an injury site into neurons.
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