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Mulè S, Rosso G, Botta M, Brovero A, Ferrari S, Galla R, Molinari C, Uberti F. Design of Mixed Medicinal Plants, Rich in Polyphenols, Vitamins B, and Palmitoylethanolamide-Based Supplement to Help Reduce Nerve Pain: A Preclinical Study. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4790. [PMID: 38732008 PMCID: PMC11083932 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropathy affects 7-10% of the general population and is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system. The limitations of current therapies highlight the necessity of a new innovative approach to treating neuropathic pain (NP) based on the close correlation between oxidative stress, inflammatory process, and antioxidant action. The advantageous outcomes of a novel combination composed of Hop extract, Propolis, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin B, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) used as a treatment was evaluated in this study. To assess the absorption and biodistribution of the combination, its bioavailability was first examined in a 3D intestinal barrier model that replicated intestinal absorption. Further, a 3D nerve tissue model was developed to study the biological impacts of the combination during the essential pathways involved in NP. Our findings show that the combination could cross the intestinal barrier and reach the peripheral nervous system, where it modulates the oxidative stress, inflammation levels, and myelination mechanism (increased NRG, MPZ, ERB, and p75 levels) under Schwann cells damaging. This study proves the effectiveness of Ginkgo Biloba, Propolis, Hop extract, Vitamin B, and PEA in avoiding nerve damage and suggests a potential alternative nutraceutical treatment for NP and neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mulè
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
| | - Giorgia Rosso
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
| | - Mattia Botta
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
| | - Arianna Brovero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
| | - Sara Ferrari
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
| | - Rebecca Galla
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
- Noivita Srls, Spin Off, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Claudio Molinari
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
| | - Francesca Uberti
- Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.); (M.B.); (S.F.); (R.G.); (C.M.)
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2
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Ávila-Fernández P, Etayo-Escanilla M, Sánchez-Porras D, Blanco-Elices C, Campos F, Carriel V, García-García ÓD, Chato-Astrain J. A Novel In Vitro Pathological Model for Studying Neural Invasion in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer. Gels 2024; 10:252. [PMID: 38667671 PMCID: PMC11049316 DOI: 10.3390/gels10040252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural Invasion (NI) is a key pathological feature of cancer in the colonization of distant tissues, and its underlying biological mechanisms are still scarcely known. The complex interactions between nerve and tumor cells, along with the stroma, make it difficult to reproduce this pathology in effective study models, which in turn has limited the understanding of NI pathogenesis. In this study, we have designed a three-dimensional model of NI squamous cell carcinoma combining human epidermoid carcinoma cells (hECCs) with a complete peripheral nerve segment encapsulated in a fibrine-agarose hydrogel. We recreated two vital processes of NI: a pre-invasive NI model in which hECCs were seeded on the top of the nerve-enriched stroma, and an invasive NI model in which cancer cells were immersed with the nerve in the hydrogel. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to validate the model. Results showed that the integration of fibrin-agarose advanced hydrogel with a complete nerve structure and hECCs successfully generated an environment in which tumor cells and nerve components coexisted. Moreover, this model correctly preserved components of the neural extracellular matrix as well as allowing the proliferation and migration of cells embedded in hydrogel. All these results suggest the suitability of the model for the study of the mechanisms underlaying NI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ávila-Fernández
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
- Doctoral Program in Biomedicine, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Etayo-Escanilla
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - David Sánchez-Porras
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Blanco-Elices
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Fernando Campos
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Víctor Carriel
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Óscar Darío García-García
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Chato-Astrain
- Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.Á.-F.); (M.E.-E.); (D.S.-P.); (C.B.-E.); (F.C.); (J.C.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
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Mulè S, Ferrari S, Rosso G, Brovero A, Botta M, Congiusta A, Galla R, Molinari C, Uberti F. The Combined Antioxidant Effects of N-Acetylcysteine, Vitamin D3, and Glutathione from the Intestinal-Neuronal In Vitro Model. Foods 2024; 13:774. [PMID: 38472887 DOI: 10.3390/foods13050774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic oxidative stress has been consistently linked to age-related diseases, conditions, and degenerative syndromes. Specifically, the brain is the organ that significantly contributes to declining quality of life in ageing. Since the body cannot completely counteract the detrimental effects of oxidative stress, nutraceuticals' antioxidant properties have received significant attention in recent years. This study assesses the potential health benefits of a novel combination of glutathione, vitamin D3, and N-acetylcysteine. To examine the combination's absorption and biodistribution and confirm that it has no harmful effects, the bioavailability of the mixture was first evaluated in a 3D model that mimicked the intestinal barrier. Further analyses on the blood-brain barrier was conducted to determine the antioxidant effects of the combination in the nervous system. The results show that the combination reaches the target and successfully crosses the blood-brain and intestinal barriers, demonstrating enhanced advantages on the neurological system, such as a reduction (about 10.5%) in inflammation and enhancement in cell myelination (about 20.4%) and brain tropism (about 18.1%) compared to the control. The results support the cooperative effect of N-acetylcysteine, vitamin D3, and glutathione to achieve multiple health benefits, outlining the possibility of an alternative nutraceutical approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mulè
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Sara Ferrari
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Giorgia Rosso
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Arianna Brovero
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Mattia Botta
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Alessia Congiusta
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Rebecca Galla
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
- Noivita S.r.l.s., Spin Off of University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Claudio Molinari
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Francesca Uberti
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department for Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, University of Piemonte Orientale, UPO, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
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Ferrari S, Mulè S, Galla R, Brovero A, Genovese G, Molinari C, Uberti F. Effects of Nutraceutical Compositions Containing Rhizoma Gastrodiae or Lipoic Acid in an In Vitro Induced Neuropathic Pain Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2376. [PMID: 38397054 PMCID: PMC10889561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral neuropathy is caused by a malfunction in the axons and myelin sheaths of peripheral nerves and motor and sensory neurons. In this context, nonpharmacological treatments with antioxidant potential have attracted much attention due to the issues that some conventional pharmaceutical therapy can generate. Most of these treatments contain lipoic acid, but issues have emerged regarding its use. Considering this, the present study evaluated the beneficial effects of nutraceuticals based on Gastrodiae elata dry extract 10:1 or lipoic acid in combination with other substances (such as citicholine, B vitamins, and acetyl L-carnitine). METHOD To assess the combination's absorption and biodistribution and exclude cytotoxicity, its bioavailability was first examined in a 3D intestinal barrier model that replicated oral ingestion. Subsequently, a 3D model of nerve tissue was constructed to investigate the impacts of the new combination on the significant pathways dysregulated in peripheral neuropathy. RESULTS Our findings show that the novel combination outperformed in initial pain relief response and in recovering the mechanism of nerve healing following Schwann cell injury by successfully crossing the gut barrier and reaching the target site. CONCLUSION This article describes a potential alternative nutraceutical approach supporting the effectiveness of combinations with Gastrodiae elata extract in decreasing neuropathy and regulating pain pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferrari
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.F.); (S.M.); (R.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Simone Mulè
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.F.); (S.M.); (R.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Rebecca Galla
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.F.); (S.M.); (R.G.); (G.G.)
- Noivita Srls, Spin-Off, Via Alfieri 3, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Arianna Brovero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università Degli Studi di Torino, 10043 Torino, Italy;
| | - Giulia Genovese
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.F.); (S.M.); (R.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Claudio Molinari
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy;
| | - Francesca Uberti
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.F.); (S.M.); (R.G.); (G.G.)
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5
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Dziemidowicz K, Kellaway SC, Guillemot-Legris O, Matar O, Trindade RP, Roberton VH, Rayner MLD, Williams GR, Phillips JB. Development of ibuprofen-loaded electrospun materials suitable for surgical implantation in peripheral nerve injury. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 154:213623. [PMID: 37837905 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
The development of nerve wraps for use in the repair of peripheral nerves has shown promise over recent years. A pharmacological effect to improve regeneration may be achieved by loading such materials with therapeutic agents, for example ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with neuroregenerative properties. In this study, four commercially available polymers (polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and two co-polymers containing different ratios of PLA to PCL) were used to fabricate ibuprofen-loaded nerve wraps using blend electrospinning. In vitro surgical handling experiments identified a formulation containing a PLA/PCL 70/30 molar ratio co-polymer as the most suitable for in vivo implantation. In a rat model, ibuprofen released from electrospun materials significantly improved the rate of axonal growth and sensory recovery over a 21-day recovery period following a sciatic nerve crush. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis of nerve segments revealed that the anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects of ibuprofen may still be observed 21 days after implantation. This suggests that the formulation developed in this work could have potential to improve nerve regeneration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Dziemidowicz
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Simon C Kellaway
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Owein Guillemot-Legris
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Omar Matar
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Rita Pereira Trindade
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Victoria H Roberton
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Melissa L D Rayner
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Gareth R Williams
- Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - James B Phillips
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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6
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Oliveira JT, Yanick C, Wein N, Gomez Limia CE. Neuron-Schwann cell interactions in peripheral nervous system homeostasis, disease, and preclinical treatment. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1248922. [PMID: 37900588 PMCID: PMC10600466 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1248922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Schwann cells (SCs) have a critical role in the peripheral nervous system. These cells are able to support axons during homeostasis and after injury. However, mutations in genes associated with the SCs repair program or myelination result in dysfunctional SCs. Several neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, diabetic neuropathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome show abnormal SC functions and an impaired regeneration process. Thus, understanding SCs-axon interaction and the nerve environment in the context of homeostasis as well as post-injury and disease onset is necessary. Several neurotrophic factors, cytokines, and regulators of signaling pathways associated with proliferation, survival and regeneration are involved in this process. Preclinical studies have focused on the discovery of therapeutic targets for peripheral neuropathies and injuries. To study the effect of new therapeutic targets, modeling neuropathies and peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) in vitro and in vivo are useful tools. Furthermore, several in vitro protocols have been designed using SCs and neuron cell lines to evaluate these targets in the regeneration process. SCs lines have been used to generate effective myelinating SCs without success. Alternative options have been investigated using direct conversion from somatic cells to SCs or SCs derived from pluripotent stem cells to generate functional SCs. This review will go over the advantages of these systems and the problems associated with them. In addition, there have been challenges in establishing adequate and reproducible protocols in vitro to recapitulate repair SC-neuron interactions observed in vivo. So, we also discuss the mechanisms of repair SCs-axon interactions in the context of peripheral neuropathies and nerve injury (PNI) in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we summarize current preclinical studies evaluating transgenes, drug, and novel compounds with translational potential into clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicolas Wein
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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7
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Gong GQ, Bilanges B, Allsop B, Masson GR, Roberton V, Askwith T, Oxenford S, Madsen RR, Conduit SE, Bellini D, Fitzek M, Collier M, Najam O, He Z, Wahab B, McLaughlin SH, Chan AWE, Feierberg I, Madin A, Morelli D, Bhamra A, Vinciauskaite V, Anderson KE, Surinova S, Pinotsis N, Lopez-Guadamillas E, Wilcox M, Hooper A, Patel C, Whitehead MA, Bunney TD, Stephens LR, Hawkins PT, Katan M, Yellon DM, Davidson SM, Smith DM, Phillips JB, Angell R, Williams RL, Vanhaesebroeck B. A small-molecule PI3Kα activator for cardioprotection and neuroregeneration. Nature 2023; 618:159-168. [PMID: 37225977 PMCID: PMC7614683 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05972-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Harnessing the potential beneficial effects of kinase signalling through the generation of direct kinase activators remains an underexplored area of drug development1-5. This also applies to the PI3K signalling pathway, which has been extensively targeted by inhibitors for conditions with PI3K overactivation, such as cancer and immune dysregulation. Here we report the discovery of UCL-TRO-1938 (referred to as 1938 hereon), a small-molecule activator of the PI3Kα isoform, a crucial effector of growth factor signalling. 1938 allosterically activates PI3Kα through a distinct mechanism by enhancing multiple steps of the PI3Kα catalytic cycle and causes both local and global conformational changes in the PI3Kα structure. This compound is selective for PI3Kα over other PI3K isoforms and multiple protein and lipid kinases. It transiently activates PI3K signalling in all rodent and human cells tested, resulting in cellular responses such as proliferation and neurite outgrowth. In rodent models, acute treatment with 1938 provides cardioprotection from ischaemia-reperfusion injury and, after local administration, enhances nerve regeneration following nerve crush. This study identifies a chemical tool to directly probe the PI3Kα signalling pathway and a new approach to modulate PI3K activity, widening the therapeutic potential of targeting these enzymes through short-term activation for tissue protection and regeneration. Our findings illustrate the potential of activating kinases for therapeutic benefit, a currently largely untapped area of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Q Gong
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Benoit Bilanges
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ben Allsop
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
| | - Glenn R Masson
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Victoria Roberton
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Trevor Askwith
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sally Oxenford
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ralitsa R Madsen
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah E Conduit
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dom Bellini
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martina Fitzek
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Matt Collier
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Osman Najam
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Zhenhe He
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ben Wahab
- Medicines Discovery Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - A W Edith Chan
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Andrew Madin
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniele Morelli
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amandeep Bhamra
- Proteomics Research Translational Technology Platform, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vanesa Vinciauskaite
- Division of Cellular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Silvia Surinova
- Proteomics Research Translational Technology Platform, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nikos Pinotsis
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | | | - Matthew Wilcox
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alice Hooper
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
| | - Chandni Patel
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maria A Whitehead
- Cell Signalling, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tom D Bunney
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Matilda Katan
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Derek M Yellon
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sean M Davidson
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - David M Smith
- Emerging Innovations, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - James B Phillips
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Angell
- Drug Discovery Group, Translational Research Office, University College London, London, UK
- Medicines Discovery Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Roger L Williams
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
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8
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3D culture of the spinal cord with roots as an ex vivo model for comparative studies of motor and sensory nerve regeneration. Exp Neurol 2023; 362:114322. [PMID: 36652972 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Motor and sensory nerves exhibit tissue-specific structural and functional features. However, in vitro models designed to reflect tissue-specific differences between motor and sensory nerve regeneration have rarely been reported. Here, by embedding the spinal cord with roots (SCWR) in a 3D hydrogel environment, we compared the nerve regeneration processes between the ventral and dorsal roots. The 3D hydrogel environment induced an outward migration of neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord, which allowed the long-term survival of motor neurons. Tuj1 immunofluorescence labeling confirmed the regeneration of neurites from both the ventral and dorsal roots. Next, we detected asymmetric ventral and dorsal root regeneration in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and we observed motor and sensory Schwann cell phenotypes in the regenerated ventral and dorsal roots, respectively. Moreover, based on the SCWR model, we identified a targeted effect of collagen VI on sensory nerve fasciculation and characterized the protein expression profiles correlating to motor/sensory-specific nerve regeneration. These results suggest that the SCWR model can serve as a valuable ex vivo model for comparative study of motor and sensory nerve regeneration and for pharmacodynamic evaluations.
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9
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Novel Approach to the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain Using a Combination with Palmitoylethanolamide and Equisetum arvense L. in an In Vitro Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065503. [PMID: 36982577 PMCID: PMC10053612 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a typical patient disorder resulting from damage and dysfunction of the peripheral neuraxis. Injury to peripheral nerves in the upper extremities can result in a lifelong reduction in quality of life and a devastating loss of sensory and motor function. Since some standard pharmaceutical therapies can cause dependence or intolerance, nonpharmacological treatments have gained great interest in recent years. In this context, the beneficial effects of a new combination of palmitoylethanolamide and Equisetum arvense L. are evaluated in the present study. The bioavailability of the combination was initially analyzed in a 3D intestinal barrier simulating oral intake to analyze its absorption/biodistribution and exclude cytotoxicity. In a further step, a 3D nerve tissue model was performed to study the biological effects of the combination during the key mechanisms leading to peripheral neuropathy. Our results demonstrate that the combination successfully crossed the intestinal barrier and reached the target site, modulating the nerve recovery mechanism after Schwann cell injury and offering the initial response of relieving pain. This work supported the efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide and Equisetum arvense L. in reducing neuropathy and modifying the major pain mechanisms, outlining a possible alternative nutraceutical approach.
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10
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Laranjeira S, Roberton VH, Phillips JB, Shipley RJ. Perspectives on optimizing local delivery of drugs to peripheral nerves using mathematical models. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1593. [PMID: 36624330 PMCID: PMC10909486 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Drug therapies for treating peripheral nerve injury repair have shown significant promise in preclinical studies. Despite this, drug treatments are not used routinely clinically to treat patients with peripheral nerve injuries. Drugs delivered systemically are often associated with adverse effects to other tissues and organs; it remains challenging to predict the effective concentration needed at an injured nerve and the appropriate delivery strategy. Local drug delivery approaches are being developed to mitigate this, for example via injections or biomaterial-mediated release. We propose the integration of mathematical modeling into the development of local drug delivery protocols for peripheral nerve injury repair. Mathematical models have the potential to inform understanding of the different transport mechanisms at play, as well as quantitative predictions around the efficacy of individual local delivery protocols. We discuss existing approaches in the literature, including drawing from other research fields, and present a process for taking forward an integrated mathematical-experimental approach to accelerate local drug delivery approaches for peripheral nerve injury repair. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Computational Models Neurological Diseases > Biomedical Engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simao Laranjeira
- UCL Mechanical EngineeringUCL Centre for Nerve EngineeringLondonLondonUK
| | | | - James B. Phillips
- UCL School of PharmacyUCL Centre for Nerve EngineeringLondonLondonUK
| | - Rebecca J. Shipley
- UCL Mechanical EngineeringUCL Centre for Nerve EngineeringLondonLondonUK
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11
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Rayner MLD, Kellaway SC, Kingston I, Guillemot-Legris O, Gregory H, Healy J, Phillips JB. Exploring the Nerve Regenerative Capacity of Compounds with Differing Affinity for PPARγ In Vitro and In Vivo. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010042. [PMID: 36611836 PMCID: PMC9818498 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to peripheral nerves can cause debilitating consequences for patients such as lifelong pain and disability. At present, no drug treatments are routinely given in the clinic following a peripheral nerve injury (PNI) to improve regeneration and remyelination of damaged nerves. Appropriately targeted therapeutic agents have the potential to be used at different stages following nerve damage, e.g., to maintain Schwann cell viability, induce and sustain a repair phenotype to support axonal growth, or promote remyelination. The development of therapies to promote nerve regeneration is currently of high interest to researchers, however, translation to the clinic of drug therapies for PNI is still lacking. Studying the effect of PPARγ agonists for treatment of peripheral nerve injures has demonstrated significant benefits. Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has reproducibly demonstrated benefits in vitro and in vivo, suggested to be due to its agonist action on PPARγ. Other NSAIDs have demonstrated differing levels of PPARγ activation based upon their affinity. Therefore, it was of interest to determine whether affinity for PPARγ of selected drugs corresponded to an increase in regeneration. A 3D co-culture in vitro model identified some correlation between these two properties. However, when the drug treatments were screened in vivo, in a crush injury model in a rat sciatic nerve, the same correlation was not apparent. Further differences were observed between capacity to increase axon number and improvement in functional recovery. Despite there not being a clear correlation between affinity and size of effect on regeneration, all selected PPARγ agonists improved regeneration, providing a panel of compounds that could be explored for use in the treatment of PNI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L. D. Rayner
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Simon C. Kellaway
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
| | - Isabel Kingston
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
| | - Owein Guillemot-Legris
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
| | - Holly Gregory
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
| | - Jess Healy
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
| | - James B. Phillips
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 6BT, UK
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12
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Ameenudeen S, Kashif M, Banerjee S, Srinivasan H, Pandurangan AK, Waseem M. Cellular and Molecular Machinery of Neuropathic Pain: an Emerging Insight. CURRENT PHARMACOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 8:227-235. [PMID: 35646513 PMCID: PMC9125010 DOI: 10.1007/s40495-022-00294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Neuropathic pain (NP) has been ubiquitously characterized by lesion and its linked somatosensory system either the central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS) This PNS episode is the most prevalent site of NP origin and is found to be associated with afferent nerve fibers carrying pain signals from injured/trauma site to the CNS including the brain. Several kinds of pharmacotherapeutic drugs shuch as analgesics, anti-convulsants, and anti-depressants are being employed for the its possible interventions. The NP has been a great interest to follow different pathophysiological mechanisms which are often considered to correlate with the metabolic pathways and its mediated disease. There is paucity of knowledge to make such mechanism via NP. Recent Finding Most notably, recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has also been reported in chronic pain mediated diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and cancers. There is an increasing incidence of NP and its complex mechanism has now led to identify the possible investigations of responsible genes and proteins via bioinformatics tools. The analysis might be more instrumental as collecting the genes from pain genetic database, analyzing the variants through differential gene expression (DEG) and constructing the protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and thereby determining their upregulating and downregulating pathways. Summary This review sheds a bright light towards several mechanisms at both cellular and molecular level, correlation of NP-mediated disease mechanism and possible cell surface biomarkers (receptors), and identified genes could be more promising for their pharmacological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Ameenudeen
- School of Life Sciences, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048 Tamil Nadu India
| | - Mohd. Kashif
- School of Life Sciences, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048 Tamil Nadu India
| | - Subhamoy Banerjee
- Department of Basic Science and Humanities, Institute of Engineering and Management, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700091 India
| | - Hemalatha Srinivasan
- School of Life Sciences, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048 Tamil Nadu India
| | - Ashok Kumar Pandurangan
- School of Life Sciences, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048 Tamil Nadu India
| | - Mohammad Waseem
- School of Life Sciences, BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, GST Road, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048 Tamil Nadu India
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13
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Ma J, Li J, Hu S, Wang X, Li M, Xie J, Shi Q, Li B, Lafu S, Chen H. Collagen Modified Anisotropic PLA Scaffold as a base for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2200119. [PMID: 35526091 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Reconstruction of damaged nerves remains a significant unmet challenge in clinical medicine. Topographical and mechanical stimulations play important roles to repair peripheral nerve injury. The synergistic effects of topography and mechanical rigidity may significantly accelerate nerve regeneration. In this work, we developed a nerve-guiding collagen/polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun scaffold to facilitate peripheral nerve repair. The obtained anisotropic PLA electrospun scaffolds simulated the directional arranged structure of nerve realistically and promoted axonal regeneration after sciatic nerve injury when compared with the isotropic PLA electrospun scaffolds. Moreover, the collagen-modified PLA electrospun scaffolds further provided sufficient mechanical support and favorable microenvironment for axon regeneration. In addition, we observed that collagen-modified PLA electrospun scaffolds facilitated the axon regeneration by regulating YAP molecular pathway. Taken together, we engineered collagen-modified anisotropic PLA electrospun scaffolds may be a potential candidate to combine topography and mechanical rigidity for peripheral nerve regeneration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Ma
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sihan Hu
- Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingran Wang
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meimei Li
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jile Xie
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qin Shi
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Li
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Saiji Lafu
- Orthopaedic Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Affiliated Hospital & Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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14
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Engineered neural tissue made using clinical-grade human neural stem cells supports regeneration in a long gap peripheral nerve injury model. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:203-213. [PMID: 34455110 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A surgical autograft remains the clinical gold-standard therapy for gap repair following peripheral nerve injury, however, challenges remain with achieving full recovery and reducing donor-site morbidity. Engineered Neural Tissue (EngNT) manufactured using differentiated CTX0E03 human stem cells (EngNT-CTX) has been developed as a potential 'off the shelf' allogeneic autograft replacement. Ensheathed within a collagen membrane developed to facilitate biomechanical integration, EngNT-CTX was used to bridge a critical-length (15 mm) sciatic nerve gap injury in athymic nude rats. The effectiveness of EngNT-CTX was compared to an autograft using outcome measures that assessed neuronal regeneration and functional recovery at 8 and 16 weeks. At both time points EngNT-CTX restored electrophysiological nerve conduction and functional reinnervation of downstream muscles to the same extent as the autograft. Histological analysis confirmed that more motor neurons had successfully regenerated through the repair in EngNT-CTX in comparison to the autograft at 8 weeks, which was consistent with the electrophysiology, with the number of motor neurons similar in both groups by 16 weeks. The total number of neurons (motor + sensory) was greater in autografts than EngNT-CTX at 8 weeks, indicating that more sensory fibres may have sprouted in those animals at this time point. In conclusion, this study provides evidence to support the effectiveness of EngNT-CTX as a replacement for the nerve autograft, as the functional regeneration assessed through histological and electrophysiological outcome measures demonstrated equivalent performance. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Following injury a peripheral nerve has the capacity to regenerate naturally, however, in the case of severe damage where there is a gap the current gold-standard microsurgical intervention is an autograft. This is associated with serious limitations including tissue availability and donor-site morbidity. Tissue engineering aims to overcome these limitations by building a construct from therapeutic cells and biomaterials as a means to mimic and replace the autograft. In this study engineered neural tissue (EngNT) was manufactured using human stem cells (CTX) to bridge a critical-length gap injury. When compared to the autograft in an animal model the EngNT-CTX construct restored function to an equivalent or greater extent.
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15
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Repurposing Small Molecules to Target PPAR-γ as New Therapies for Peripheral Nerve Injuries. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091301. [PMID: 34572514 PMCID: PMC8465622 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The slow rate of neuronal regeneration that follows peripheral nerve repair results in poor recovery, particularly where reinnervation of muscles is delayed, leading to atrophy and permanent loss of function. There is a clear clinical need to develop drug treatments that can accelerate nerve regeneration safely, restoring connections before the target tissues deteriorate irreversibly. The identification that the Rho/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway acts to limit neuronal growth rate is a promising advancement towards the development of drugs. Targeting Rho or ROCK directly can act to suppress the activity of this pathway; however, the pathway can also be modulated through the activation of upstream receptors; one of particular interest being peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). The connection between the PPAR-γ receptor and the Rho/ROCK pathway is the suppression of the conversion of inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-Rho to active guanosine triphosphate GTP-Rho, resulting in the suppression of Rho/ROCK activity. PPAR-γ is known for its role in cellular metabolism that leads to cell growth and differentiation. However, more recently there has been a growing interest in targeting PPAR-γ in peripheral nerve injury (PNI). The localisation and expression of PPAR-γ in neural cells following a PNI has been reported and further in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that delivering PPAR-γ agonists following injury promotes nerve regeneration, leading to improvements in functional recovery. This review explores the potential of repurposing PPAR-γ agonists to treat PNI and their prospective translation to the clinic.
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16
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Taylor CS, Chen R, D' Sa R, Hunt JA, Curran JM, Haycock JW. Cost effective optimised synthetic surface modification strategies for enhanced control of neuronal cell differentiation and supporting neuronal and Schwann cell viability. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2021; 109:1713-1723. [PMID: 33749114 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Enriching a biomaterial surface with specific chemical groups has previously been considered for producing surfaces that influence cell response. Silane layer deposition has previously been shown to control mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and differentiation. However, it has not been used to investigate neuronal or Schwann cell responses in vitro to date. We report on the deposition of aminosilane groups for peripheral neurons and Schwann cells studying two chain lengths: (a) 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (short chain-SC) and (b) 11-aminoundecyltriethoxysilane (long chain-LC) by coating glass substrates. Surfaces were characterised by water contact angle, AFM and XPS. LC-NH2 was produced reproducibly as a homogenous surface with controlled nanotopography. Primary neuron and NG108-15 neuronal cell differentiation and primary Schwann cell responses were investigated in vitro by S100β, p75, and GFAP antigen expression. Both amine silane surface supported neuronal and Schwann cell growth; however, neuronal differentiation was greater on LC aminosilanes versus SC. Thus, we report that silane surfaces with an optimal chain length may have potential in peripheral nerve repair for the modification and improvement of nerve guidance devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline S Taylor
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Raechelle D' Sa
- Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John A Hunt
- Medical Technologies and Advanced Materials, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Judith M Curran
- Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John W Haycock
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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17
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Powell R, Phillips JB. Engineered Tissues Made from Human iPSC-Derived Schwann Cells for Investigating Peripheral Nerve Regeneration In Vitro. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2269:245-254. [PMID: 33687684 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1225-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral nerves have a limited ability to regenerate and current clinical approaches involving microsurgery give suboptimal recovery. Engineered tissues using aligned cellular collagen hydrogels can be used as in vitro models through the incorporation of human Schwann cells. However, primary human Schwann cells are difficult to obtain and can be challenging to culture. The ability to generate Schwann cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) provides a more reliable cell source for modeling peripheral nerve tissue. Here, we describe protocols for generating hiPSC-derived Schwann cells and incorporating them into 3D engineered tissue culture models for peripheral nerve research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Powell
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - James B Phillips
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.
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18
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Sultan N, Amin LE, Zaher AR, Grawish ME, Scheven BA. Dental pulp stem cells stimulate neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1821-1828. [PMID: 33510089 PMCID: PMC8328759 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.306089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) secrete neurotrophic factors which may play an important therapeutic role in neural development, maintenance and repair. To test this hypothesis, DPSCs-conditioned medium (DPSCs-CM) was collected from 72 hours serum-free DPSCs cultures. The impact of DPSCs-derived factors on PC12 survival, growth, migration and differentiation was investigated. PC12 cells were treated with nerve growth factor (NGF), DPSCs-CM or co-cultured with DPSCs using Transwell inserts for 8 days. The number of surviving cells with neurite outgrowths and the length of neurites were measured by image analysis. Immunocytochemical staining was used to evaluate the expression of neuronal markers NeuN, microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and cytoskeletal marker βIII-tubulin. Gene expression levels of axonal growth-associated protein 43 and synaptic protein Synapsin-I, NeuN, MAP-2 and βIII-tubulin were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). DPSCs-CM was analysed for the neurotrophic factors (NGF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], neurotrophin-3, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]) by specific ELISAs. Specific neutralizing antibodies against the detected neurotrophic factors were used to study their exact role on PC12 neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth extension. DPSCs-CM significantly promoted cell survival and induced the neurite outgrowth confirmed by NeuN, MAP-2 and βIII-tubulin immunostaining. Furthermore, DPSCs-CM was significantly more effective in stimulating PC12 neurite outgrowths than live DPSCs/PC12 co-cultures over the time studied. The morphology of induced PC12 cells in DPSCs-CM was similar to NGF positive controls; however, DPSCs-CM stimulation of cell survival was significantly higher than what was seen in NGF-treated cultures. The number of surviving PC12 cells treated with DPSCs-CM was markedly reduced by the addition of anti-GDNF, whilst PC12 neurite outgrowth was significantly attenuated by anti-NGF, anti-GDNF and anti-BDNF antibodies. These findings demonstrated that DPSCs were able to promote PC12 survival and differentiation. DPSCs-derived NGF, BDNF and GDNF were involved in the stimulatory action on neurite outgrowth, whereas GDNF also had a significant role in promoting PC12 survival. DPSCs-derived factors may be harnessed as a cell-free therapy for peripheral nerve repair. All experiments were conducted on dead animals that were not sacrificed for the purpose of the study. All the methods were carried out in accordance with Birmingham University guidelines and regulations and the ethical approval is not needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nessma Sultan
- School of Dentistry, Oral Biology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Laila E Amin
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University; Faculty of Dentistry, Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt
| | - Ahmed R Zaher
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | - Mohammed E Grawish
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University; Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Delta University for Science and Technology, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ben A Scheven
- School of Dentistry, Oral Biology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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19
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Lopez-Silva TL, Cristobal CD, Edwin Lai CS, Leyva-Aranda V, Lee HK, Hartgerink JD. Self-assembling multidomain peptide hydrogels accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration after crush injury. Biomaterials 2021; 265:120401. [PMID: 33002786 PMCID: PMC7669633 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogels are a class of self-assembling materials that have been shown to elicit beneficial responses for soft tissue regeneration. However, their capacity to promote nervous system regeneration remains unknown. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) substantially recovers after injury, partly due to the abundance of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in its basal lamina. However, severe peripheral nerve injuries that significantly damage the ECM continue to be a major clinical challenge as they occur at a high rate and can be extremely detrimental to patients' quality of life. In this study, a panel of eight MDPs were designed to contain various motifs mimicking extracellular matrix components and growth factors and successfully self-assembled into injectable, nanofibrous hydrogels. Using an in vitro screening system, various lysine based MDPs were found to enhance neurite outgrowth. To test their capacity to promote nerve regeneration in vivo, rat sciatic nerve crush injury was performed with MDP hydrogels injected directly into the injury sites. MDP hydrogels were found to enhance macrophage recruitment to the injury site and degrade efficiently over time. Rats that were injected with the MDP hydrogel K2 and laminin motif-containing MDPs K2-IIKDI and K2-IKVAV were found to have significantly accelerated functional recovery and remyelination compared to those injected with HBSS or other MDPs. These results demonstrate that MDPs enhance neurite outgrowth and promote a multicellular pro-regenerative response in peripheral nerve injury. This study provides important insights into the potential of MDPs as biomaterials for nerve regeneration and other clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania L Lopez-Silva
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Carlo D Cristobal
- Integrative Program in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Cheuk Sun Edwin Lai
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | | | - Hyun Kyoung Lee
- Integrative Program in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics-Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Jeffrey D Hartgerink
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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20
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Panzer KV, Burrell JC, Helm KVT, Purvis EM, Zhang Q, Le AD, O’Donnell JC, Cullen DK. Tissue Engineered Bands of Büngner for Accelerated Motor and Sensory Axonal Outgrowth. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:580654. [PMID: 33330416 PMCID: PMC7714719 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.580654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Following peripheral nerve injury comprising a segmental defect, the extent of axon regeneration decreases precipitously with increasing gap length. Schwann cells play a key role in driving axon re-growth by forming aligned tubular guidance structures called bands of Büngner, which readily occurs in distal nerve segments as well as within autografts - currently the most reliable clinically-available bridging strategy. However, host Schwann cells generally fail to infiltrate large-gap acellular scaffolds, resulting in markedly inferior outcomes and motivating the development of next-generation bridging strategies capable of fully exploiting the inherent pro-regenerative capability of Schwann cells. We sought to create preformed, implantable Schwann cell-laden microtissue that emulates the anisotropic structure and function of naturally-occurring bands of Büngner. Accordingly, we developed a biofabrication scheme leveraging biomaterial-induced self-assembly of dissociated rat primary Schwann cells into dense, fiber-like three-dimensional bundles of Schwann cells and extracellular matrix within hydrogel micro-columns. This engineered microtissue was found to be biomimetic of morphological and phenotypic features of endogenous bands of Büngner, and also demonstrated 8 and 2× faster rates of axonal extension in vitro from primary rat spinal motor neurons and dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons, respectively, compared to 3D matrix-only controls or planar Schwann cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of accelerated motor axon outgrowth using aligned Schwann cell constructs. For translational considerations, this microtissue was also fabricated using human gingiva-derived Schwann cells as an easily accessible autologous cell source. These results demonstrate the first tissue engineered bands of Büngner (TE-BoBs) comprised of dense three-dimensional bundles of longitudinally aligned Schwann cells that are readily scalable as implantable grafts to accelerate axon regeneration across long segmental nerve defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate V. Panzer
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Justin C. Burrell
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kaila V. T. Helm
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erin M. Purvis
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Qunzhou Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Penn Medicine Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Anh D. Le
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Penn Medicine Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John C. O’Donnell
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Rayner MLD, Grillo A, Williams GR, Tawfik E, Zhang T, Volitaki C, Craig DQM, Healy J, Phillips JB. Controlled local release of PPARγ agonists from biomaterials to treat peripheral nerve injury. J Neural Eng 2020; 17:046030. [PMID: 32780719 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aba7cc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Poor clinical outcomes following peripheral nerve injury (PNI) are partly attributable to the limited rate of neuronal regeneration. Despite numerous potential drug candidates demonstrating positive effects on nerve regeneration rate in preclinical models, no drugs are routinely used to improve restoration of function in clinical practice. A key challenge associated with clinical adoption of drug treatments in nerve injured patients is the requirement for sustained administration of doses associated with undesirable systemic sideeffects. Local controlled-release drug delivery systems could potentially address this challenge, particularly through the use of biomaterials that can be implanted at the repair site during the microsurgical repair procedure. APPROACH In order to test this concept, this study used various biomaterials to deliver ibuprofen sodium or sulindac sulfide locally in a controlled manner in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. Following characterisation of release parameters in vitro, ethylene vinyl acetate tubes or polylactic-co-glycolic acid wraps, loaded with ibuprofen sodium or sulindac sulfide, were placed around directly-repaired nerve transection or nerve crush injuries in rats. MAIN RESULTS Ibuprofen sodium, but not sulindac sulfide caused an increase in neurites in distal nerve segments and improvements in functional recovery in comparison to controls with no drug treatment. SIGNIFICANCE This study showed for the first time that local delivery of ibuprofen sodium using biomaterials improves neurite growth and functional recovery following PNI and provides the basis for future development of drug-loaded biomaterials suitable for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L D Rayner
- Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, UCL, London, United Kingdom. UCL School of Pharmacy, UCL, London, United Kingdom. UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, London, United Kingdom
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Trejo JL. Advances in the Ongoing Battle against the Consequences of Peripheral Nerve Injuries. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:1606-1613. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- JosÉ L. Trejo
- Department of Translational Neuroscience; Cajal Institute, CSIC; Madrid Spain
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Navarro X, Geuna S, Grothe C, Haastert-Talini K. Introduction: Thematic Papers Issue on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Repair. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:1614-1617. [PMID: 30299596 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Injuries to the peripheral nerves result in loss of motor, sensory and autonomic functions in the denervated segments of the body, thus having strong impact in the quality of life of affected patients. Neurons are able to regenerate their injured axons in the peripheral nerves; however, the endogenous repair mechanisms usually do not allow for a satisfactory functional recovery, especially after severe nerve injuries. The interest on regeneration after peripheral nerve injuries has increased in the recent years due to the numerous advances derived from studies of neurobiology, cell therapy, and tissue engineering. This Thematic Papers Issue brings together a number of papers, authored by researchers in the field, which cover a wide spectrum of topics related to regeneration and repair of peripheral nerve injuries. The Issue proposal originated from the recent 4th International Symposium on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration (ISPNR2017) which was hosted by Xavier Navarro and the European Society for the Study of Peripheral Nerve Repair and Regeneration in Barcelona, Spain. Anat Rec, 301:1614-1617, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Navarro
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Stefano Geuna
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Cavalieri Ottolenghi Institute of Neuroscience, Torino, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Claudia Grothe
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany and Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN) Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kirsten Haastert-Talini
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany and Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN) Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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