Restoring motor function using optogenetics and neural engraftment

Abstract

Abstract:Controlling muscle function is essential for human behaviour and survival, thus, impairment of motor function and muscle paralysis can severely impact quality of life and may be immediately life-threatening, as occurs in many cases of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Repairing damaged spinal motor circuits, in either SCI or ALS, currently remains an elusive goal. Therefore alternative strategies are needed to artificially control muscle function and thereby enable essential motor tasks. This review focuses on recent advances towards restoring motor function, with a particular focus on stem cell-derived neuronal engraftment strategies, optogenetic control of motor function and the potential future translational application of these approaches.

Force-Mediating Magnetic Nanoparticles to Engineer Neuronal Cell Function

“…The transport of biopharmaceuticals through the blood brain barrier can further be promoted through magnetic force applications in combination with magnetoliposomes (Thomsen et al, 2015 ). Adding nanomagnetic forces stimulation to neural grafts for spinal cord repair can be an alternative to optogenetic approaches (Bryson et al, 2016 ; Kilinc et al, 2016 ). Finally, the differential uptake of magnetic nanoparticle into different brain cell types can be used to either selectively target and sort specific brain cell types, or to build controlled patterns of brain cells for artificial neural tissues.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Optogenetic Treatment for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

“…This especially possible once coupled with stem cell therapy (Bryson et al, 2016). However, while optogenetics may treat these symptoms, this review does not intend to demonstrate the effect of photostimulation on the autoimmune function of the disorder.…”

“…Although beneficial for research, these methods are not viable translational strategies for human treatment. Moreover, these methods possess limitations such as not being able to specifically target cells, posing a risk to cellular components or the foreign DNA, and association with axonal pathology (Bryson et al, 2016;Mohanty & Lakshminarayananan, 2015). Due to the lack in cell specific targeting and the lack of lateralization to humans of non-viral methods, it seems viral delivery methods provide the most sensible means of creating an optogenetic treatment, especially when studied in non-human primate models.…”

“…Ultimately, furthering this therapeutic tool is limited by the knowledge present for specific symptoms as well as their mechanisms (Bryson et al, 2016;Jazayeri & Remington, 2016;Mohanty & Lakshminarayananan, 2015;Mudiayi et al, 2015). Just as optogenetics may be used as a therapeutic tool, it can be utilized to understand these symptoms as it is currently used as an investigative tool (Carter & de Lecea, 2011;Mohanty & Lakshminarayananan, 2015;Mudiayi et al, 2015).…”

“…Indeed, the current literature on the topic does not present any research on the translation of optogenetic treatment into any neurogenerative models expressing similar symptomology, requiring further research in this field (Ahmad, Ashraf, & Komai, 2015;Bordia, Perez, Heiss, Zhang, & Quik, 2016;Bryson, Machado, Lieberam, & Greensmith, 2016;Jazayeri & Remington, 2016). This review paper will assess the potential use of optogenetics in the development of therapies for MS related symptoms such as cognitive impairment, visual impairment, bladder/bowel dysfunction, and tremors.…”