Delayed manipulation of regeneration within injured peripheral axons

While several new translational strategies to enhance regrowth of peripheral axons have been identified, combined approaches with different targets are rare. Moreover, few have been studied after a significant delay when growth programs are already well established and regeneration-related protein expression has waned. Here we study two approaches, Rb1 (Retinoblastoma 1) knockdown that targets overall neuron plasticity, and near nerve insulin acting as a growth factor. Both are validated to boost regrowth only at the outset of regeneration. We show that local delivery of Rb1 siRNA alone, with electroporation to an area of prior sciatic nerve injury generated knockdown of Rb1 mRNA in ipsilateral lumbar dorsal root ganglia. While mice treated with Rb1-targeted siRNA, compared with scrambled control siRNA, starting 2 weeks after the onset of regeneration, had only limited behavioural or electrophysiological benefits, they had enhanced reinnervation of epidermal axons. We next confirmed that intrinsic Rb1 knockdown combined with exogenous insulin had dramatic synergistic impacts on the growth patterns of adult sensory neurons studied in vitro, prompting analysis of a combined approach in vivo. Using an identical delayed post-injury protocol, we noted that added insulin not only augmented epidermal reinnervation rendered by Rb1 knockdown alone but also improved indices of mechanical sensation and motor axon recovery. The findings illustrate that peripheral neurons that are well into attempted regrowth retain their responsiveness to both intrinsic and exogenous approaches that improve their recovery. We also identify a novel local approach to manipulate gene expression and outcome in regrowing axons.