[Myelin associated inhibitors and regeneration of optic nerve]

Abstract

The failure of axonal regeneration after optic nerve injury in mammals is closely related to nonpermissive microenvironment in central nervous system as well as to the low regenerative ability of retinal ganglion cells. Myelin associated inhibitors produced by oligodendrocytes are major elements of this nonpermissive microenvironment. Three major inhibitors, Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, have been identified, which lead to signal inhibition through the same receptor complex. Blocking the inhibitors and their receptors or changing the intrinsic state of the neuron to overcome the inhibition may promote retinal ganglion cell axonal regeneration after optic nerve injury, which bring a hope to solve the problem of repair of injured optic nerve.