Enhancing Spinal Cord Recovery with Brilliant Blue G Treatment

1. Use of Brilliant Blue G to Improve Recovery After a Spinal Cord Injury Administration of an antagonist of the ATP-sensitive receptor P2X7

2. Results of Spinal Cord Injury • Excess of Extracellular ATP • Activation of P2X7 acceptors • Change in astrocytes • Motor neuron death

3. Effects of Extracellular ATP • 1 Treatment– No Change • 2 Treatments – 27% Degradation • 3 Treatments – 36% Degradation

4. Comparison of ATP to Degradation products of ATP

5. Activation of P2X7 Through Other Means • P2X7 agonist 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)ATP(BzATP) used to activate P2X7 • 30% motor neuron attrition

6. Inhibition of P2X7 • Based on previous experiments using P2X7 agonists, researchers posited the use of an antagonist would block the phenotype change in the astrocytes. • OxATP • Brilliant Blue G(BBG) • Also known as FD&C Blue #1

7. Lab rats paralyzed by dropping a 10 gram weight from a height of 12.5 mm onto the spinal cord • Three test groups • Vehicle • 10 mg/kg • 50 mg/kg

8. Surprising Results • Treatment with BBG for 3 consecutive days • Regained ability to walk • Turned Eyes and Skin Blue!

10. Results at 42 Days BBG Treated Vehicle Treated • Movement of hind legs • Coordinated movement of front and rear legs • Ability to support plantar steps • Movement of hind legs • Not coordinated • Could not support plantar steps

11. Comparing results Untreated Treated