The present invention relates broadly to methods for stimulating neural
progenitor cell migration to certain regions of the
nervous system where the neural
progenitor cell naturally would not migrate. These methods have wide interest in fields related to the development of therapeutic approaches for addressing a broad range of neurodegenerative and demyelinating pathologies of the
central nervous system. In order to accomplish these various outcomes, the invention provides modalities for introducing into a
cell of the CNS a substance that promotes polysialylation of a
protein component of the cell. This process underlies various methods of the invention, such as a method of polysialylating a
protein of the cell, a method of promoting migration of a neural
progenitor cell from a first region of a brain to a second region of the brain, or a method of promoting a neural
progenitor cell originating in a first region of a brain to differentiate in a second region of the brain. The methods described above provide the basis for various therapeutic methods disclosed in the invention. In one example a method is disclosed of inhibiting the development of, treating, or ameliorating a neurological
pathology in a subject, wherein the method includes introducing into brain cells, located in a path starting in a location close to where neural progenitor cells are located and ending in an area of the CNS where it is desirable that the neural progenitor cells migrate to, of the subject a substance that promotes polysialyltransferase activity that polysialylates a
protein of the cells. In a second example a method is disclosed of inhibiting the development of, treating, or ameliorating a neurological
pathology in a subject, including administering to the subject a substance that promotes polysialyltransferase activity in an amount effective to treat the
pathology.