Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41749407›Full record

ArticleInflammation and regeneration2026

Breaking the cycle of excitotoxicity: blood glutamate scavenging provides robust neuroprotection in spinal cord injury.

Josef Levin, Yona Goldshmit, Rosemary Lavender, Alex Yakovchuk, Evgeni Banyas, Ruth Baltovska, Amit Benbenishty, Angela Ruban

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Article in Inflammation and regeneration, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Josef Levin *Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Yona Goldshmit *Steyer School of Health Professions, Grey Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Rosemary LavenderSagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Alex YakovchukFaculty of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Evgeni BanyasGrey Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Ruth BaltovskaGrey Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
Amit BenbenishtyVP R&D, NeuroHagana Ltd., Tel Aviv, 6330220, Israel.
Angela RubanSagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel. angellruban@tauex.tau.ac.il.

Funding

Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs CDMRP SC200132, Grant 13191833Wings for Life WFL-IL-17/21
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a rapid and sustained cascade of secondary damage, with glutamate (Glu) excitotoxicity recognized as a central mechanism driving neuronal death and functional decline. Despite extensive research, no effective therapy targeting excitotoxicity, and no neuroprotective treatment in general, is currently available. This highlights the urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for managing SCI.

methodsWe developed a combined blood-glutamate scavenging (cBGS) therapeutic platform comprising two recombinant enzymes (rGOT1 and rGPT1), their respective co-substrates (oxaloacetate and pyruvate), and the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). The efficacy of cBGS was evaluated in mouse and rat models of moderate-to-severe spinal cord compression and contusion injury. Glutamate concentrations were quantified in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), while histological and functional outcomes were assessed from 1 day to 7 weeks post-injury to determine neuroprotective efficacy.

resultsSystemic cBGS administration significantly reduced Glu concentrations in both blood and CSF, leading to a marked reduction in apoptosis, neuroinflammation, demyelination, and glial scarring, while promoting neuronal and axonal survival. Treated animals demonstrated substantial locomotor recovery, up to 80% improvement in performance. Notably, cBGS remained effective when administered up to eight hours post-injury, indicating a clinically relevant therapeutic window and excellent safety profile. Core findings were independently validated in a rat severe compression model performed by an external Contract Research Organization (CRO).

conclusionsThe cBGS platform represents a first-in-class systemic neuroprotective therapy that effectively mitigates glutamate excitotoxicity and secondary injury following SCI. Its robust efficacy, wide therapeutic window, and favorable safety profile support its strong potential for clinical translation in acute SCI and other excitotoxicity-driven neurotrauma conditions, where no effective treatments currently exist.

Indexed as

Emergency treatmentExcitotoxicityGlutamateNeuroprotectionSpinal cord injuryTranslational research

Identifiers

PMID41749407
PMCPMC13001199

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.