# Disruption of CS/KSPG-Mediated Neuronal Outgrowth Inhibition

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI · 2020 · $141,930

## Abstract

Neurons in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) do not regenerate after injury. One major
factor reported to contribute to reduced regenerative potential is the inhibitory effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS)
and keratan sulfate (KS)-containing proteoglycans (CS/KSPGs) on neuronal outgrowth and neural plasticity. Of
note, the effects of CS and KS in aggrecan are neither additive nor synergistic, which suggests that CS and KS
may act together in a single or closely related set of pathways. Disruption of either glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-target interaction should increase neuronal regeneration and rehabilitation. We propose to develop new tools
to understand in detail the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of CS and KS oligosaccharide responsible for
modulation of the neuronal outgrowth inhibition in vitro. For this, we will exploit in our research sulfated glycan
oligosaccharides of unique and regular structures. The extensive library of structurally defined GAG and GAG-mimetic oligosaccharides (especially those derived from marine sources) will allow us to disrupt the CS/KS-dependent down-regulation effect in neural outgrowth. At the end of this project, besides understanding the
structural requirements, particularly sulfation patterns and chain lengths, of sulfated glycans in the process of
axon inhibition, we will be also able to present a library of sugars that can be beneficial to modulate the
inhibitory process of neural growth when exogenously applied in the system. This project not only adds new
information to the community regarding the actual contribution of CS and KS of aggrecan in neuronal
outgrowth inhibition but will also offer new molecular tools to be used for controlling this process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979536
- **Project number:** 1R03NS110996-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
- **Principal Investigator:** Vitor Hugo Pomin
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $141,930
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979536

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979536, Disruption of CS/KSPG-Mediated Neuronal Outgrowth Inhibition (1R03NS110996-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979536. Licensed CC0.

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