Problems and Prospects for Restoration of the Optic Nerve

Restoring visual function after damage or complete destruction of the optic nerve in adult patients involves many natural barriers to neuroregeneration. Research on restoring vision has focused on maintaining retinal ganglion cells (RGC), stimulating the growth of axons towards the brain, and restoring their correct synaptic connections. Unfortunately, mammalian RGC axons in normal conditions do not regenerate after injury, and ultimately they die. This review summarizes the currently known mechanisms of RGC survival and axon regeneration in mammals, including specific intrinsic signal pathways, key transcription factors, reprogramming of genes, inflammation-related regeneration factors, and stem cell therapy. The current understanding of phenomena impeding optic nerve regeneration is reviewed, along with possible ways to overcome these obstacles. The most important research results obtained in recent decades may be informative for the development of methods for treating the damaged visual system.