# Regenerative mechanisms of somatosensory neurons

> **NIH NIH R21** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $205,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Adult neural stem cells give rise to newly formed neurons in discrete areas of the mammalian central nervous
system. Whether adult neurogenesis occurs in the peripheral nervous system is unclear. We found a sparse cell
type in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) that expresses a growth factor shown to affect sensory neuronal survival
and axonal regeneration in culture systems and by exogenous application to injured nerves. However, the
endogenous source of this growth factor was unknown. Our discovery of this novel cell type suggests that the
DRG itself is the source for this growth factor. We will test this idea in Aim 1. We propose to examine the function
of this growth factor on sensory neuron viability in both naïve and injury contexts and axonal regeneration after
injury through both loss and gain-of-function mouse models. In addition, we have reason to believe that the cell
type expressing this growth factor may also have adult stem cell-like properties. In Aim 2, we will provide
evidence for whether adult neurogenesis occurs in the DRG. We will examine whether neurons repopulate the
DRG after injury, what types of DRG cells proliferate after injury long-term, and whether proliferation after injury
is dependent on this growth factor. In addition, we will develop genetic tools to follow the lineage of the sparse
cell type expressing this growth factor. Success in these Aims will provide evidence as to whether signaling
through this growth factor or secretion of the growth factor through the sparse DRG cell type should be explored
as a therapeutic strategy to support DRG cell viability, axonal regeneration, and perhaps neuronal regeneration
of somatosensory neurons after peripheral nerve injury or in degenerative diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10783086
- **Project number:** 5R21NS128203-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Helen Lai
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $205,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10783086

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10783086, Regenerative mechanisms of somatosensory neurons (5R21NS128203-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10783086. Licensed CC0.

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