Inhibiting the DNA damage response pathway promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Ahmed and Tuxworth show that inhibiting the DNA damage response pathway using a small molecule inhibitor of ATM, AZD1390, promotes axon regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. AZD1390 is orally bioavailable and reaches the central nervous system in sufficient amounts to engage the target protein and hence represents an easy-to-deliver compound to promote recovery of function in spinal cord injured patients.