ABT-555, a human anti-RGMa monoclonal antibody promotes axon regeneration and neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis models
Repulsive guidance molecule isoform a (RGMa) is another repulsive/inhibitory cue for axonal elongation. Theoretically, by blocking the activity of RGMa you can do the opposite, which is promote axonal elongation. The authors demonstrate that an antibody to RGMa (ABT-555) can stimulate regeneration within MS-like lesions in mice spinal cord and in optic neuritis. In the optic neuritis model they demonstrate that compared to the control eye which did not receive treatment, the ABT-555 treated eyes had up to 30% regenerative growth.
You would imagine AbbVie would like to get this into a clinical trial? And this may be their intention. But I would say there has been a deluge of these therapeutics now in the regenerative field, not excluding LINGO-1 in MS, and may not be the panacea they are purported to be. Moreover, there is a reason why humans and other organisms express these molecules in normal circumstances, since they play a prominent role in the topographical architecture of central nervous system during development. By blocking them, is there a chance that we would also mess up the design of our central nervous system, which any sensible neuroscientist will not deny is plastic?!