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Lee H, Tae G, Hwang S, Wee S, Ha Y, Lee HL, Shin D. Heparin-Based Hydrogel Micropatches with Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Neuropathic Pain Relief. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051436. [PMID: 37239107 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051436] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores the therapeutic efficacy of heparin-based hydrogel micropatches containing human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in treating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. Our results showed that hASCs exhibited neuroregenerative and pain-relieving effects when used with heparin-based hydrogel micropatches in the neuropathic pain animal model. The use of this combination also produced enhanced cell viability and nerve regeneration. We conducted various neurological behavioral tests, dynamic plantar tests, histological examinations, and neuroelectrophysiological examinations to confirm the therapeutic effect. Our findings suggest that this approach could maximize therapeutic efficacy and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeYeong Lee
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - GiYoong Tae
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - SaeYeon Hwang
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in Bioindustrial Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - SungWon Wee
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ha
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Lan Lee
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - DongAh Shin
- Spine & Spinal Cord Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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Love JM, Bober BG, Orozco E, White AT, Bremner SN, Lovering RM, Schenk S, Shah SB. mTOR regulates peripheral nerve response to tensile strain. J Neurophysiol 2017; 117:2075-2084. [PMID: 28250148 PMCID: PMC5434482 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00257.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
While excessive tensile strain can be detrimental to nerve function, strain can be a positive regulator of neuronal outgrowth. We used an in vivo rat model of sciatic nerve strain to investigate signaling mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve response to deformation. Nerves were deformed by 11% and did not demonstrate deficits in compound action potential latency or amplitude during or after 6 h of strain. As revealed by Western blotting, application of strain resulted in significant upregulation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 signaling in nerves, increased myelin basic protein (MBP) and β-actin levels, and increased phosphorylation of neurofilament subunit H (NF-H) compared with unstrained (sham) contralateral nerves (P < 0.05 for all comparisons, paired two-tailed t-test). Strain did not alter neuron-specific β3-tubulin or overall nerve tubulin levels compared with unstrained controls. Systemic rapamycin treatment, thought to selectively target mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), suppressed mTOR/S6 signaling, reduced levels of MBP and overall tubulin, and decreased NF-H phosphorylation in nerves strained for 6 h, revealing a role for mTOR in increasing MBP expression and NF-H phosphorylation, and maintaining tubulin levels. Consistent with stretch-induced increases in MBP, immunolabeling revealed increased S6 signaling in Schwann cells of stretched nerves compared with unstretched nerves. In addition, application of strain to cultured adult dorsal root ganglion neurons showed an increase in axonal protein synthesis based on a puromycin incorporation assay, suggesting that neuronal translational pathways also respond to strain. This work has important implications for understanding mechanisms underlying nerve response to strain during development and regeneration.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Peripheral nerves experience tensile strain (stretch) during development and movement. Excessive strain impairs neuronal function, but moderate strains are accommodated by nerves and can promote neuronal growth; mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not well understood. We demonstrated that levels of several structural proteins increase following physiological levels of nerve strain and that expression of a subset of these proteins is regulated by mTOR. Our work has important implications for understanding nerve development and strain-based regenerative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Love
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Brian G Bober
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Elisabeth Orozco
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California; and
| | - Amanda T White
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Shannon N Bremner
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California; and
| | - Richard M Lovering
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Simon Schenk
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Sameer B Shah
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California; .,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California; and
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Vaz KM, Brown JM, Shah SB. Peripheral nerve lengthening as a regenerative strategy. Neural Regen Res 2014; 9:1498-501. [PMID: 25317163 PMCID: PMC4192963 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.139471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury impairs motor, sensory, and autonomic function, incurring substantial financial costs and diminished quality of life. For large nerve gaps, proximal lesions, or chronic nerve injury, the prognosis for recovery is particularly poor, even with autografts, the current gold standard for treating small to moderate nerve gaps. In vivo elongation of intact proximal stumps towards the injured distal stumps of severed peripheral nerves may offer a promising new strategy to treat nerve injury. This review describes several nerve lengthening strategies, including a novel internal fixator device that enables rapid and distal reconnection of proximal and distal nerve stumps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Vaz
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Justin M Brown
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sameer B Shah
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Kodera N, Aoki T, Ito H. Electrophysiological and histological investigation on the gradual elongation of rabbit sciatic nerve. J NIPPON MED SCH 2011; 78:166-73. [PMID: 21720090 DOI: 10.1272/jnms.78.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A basic study using animal models was performed to investigate whether the sciatic nerve retains physiological functions and normal morphology after the gradual elongation associated with adjacent bone elongation. Electrophysiological and histological studies were performed on the elongated sciatic nerve of rabbit accompanied by the femur bone elongation. Compound action potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve were recorded and histological specimens of elongated nerve fibers were obtained immediately after final bone elongation from 4 rabbits (immediate group). Three rabbits were allowed to recover for 8 weeks after the bone elongation (maintained group). Three rabbits without bone elongation were used as controls of the immediate and maintained groups (control group). In the immediate group, the average amplitude of evoked nerve potentials were 30.38 ± 1.58 mV before elongation and diminished significantly to 18.35 ± 1.25 mV immediately after elongation (P<0.01). The amplitude of evoked potentials was not significantly different between before (30.30 ± 0.61 mV) elongation and after elongation (27.47 ± 1.63 mV) in the maintained group. The axonal area of the myelinated nerve fibers of the proximal region of the sciatic nerve in the immediate group was significantly decreased after elongation (P<0.01). The decrease in the area of the distal region was greatest in the control group and was followed by that in the maintained group and the immediate group (P<0.05, 0.01). These results suggest that the sciatic nerve shows dysfunction immediately after elongation, but can recover electrophysiologically and histologically several weeks after elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norie Kodera
- Department of Restorative Medicine of Neuro-musculoskeletal System, Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Japan
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Rupp A, Dornseifer U, Fischer A, Schmahl W, Rodenacker K, Jütting U, Gais P, Biemer E, Papadopulos N, Matiasek K. Electrophysiologic assessment of sciatic nerve regeneration in the rat: Surrounding limb muscles feature strongly in recordings from the gastrocnemius muscle. J Neurosci Methods 2007; 166:266-77. [PMID: 17854904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2007] [Revised: 07/04/2007] [Accepted: 07/11/2007] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Striking inconsistencies between the results of morphometric and electrophysiologic examinations of the regenerating nerve were observed in a previous study featuring the bridging of a 14 mm gap in the rat sciatic nerve. To shed light on this dichotomy, seven further rats were subjected to permanent sciatic nerve transection and assessed electrophysiologically, histologically and by retrograde axonal tracing at various postoperative intervals (1 h to 8 weeks). The results of the histological examinations and retrograde tracing revealed that in spite of the fact that compound muscle action potentials could be recorded in the gastrocnemius muscle, no reinnervation of the gastrocnemius muscle, either physiological or aberrant, had actually taken place. Furthermore, it was established that the electrical activity recorded in the gastrocnemius muscle after stimulation of the proximal or distal stump is generated by surrounding hind limb muscles unaffected by denervation. These are stimulated either directly, or indirectly due to spreading of the impulse. It is therefore strongly recommended that caution should be exercised when interpreting recordings from the gastrocnemius muscle after stimulation of a regenerating sciatic nerve in laboratory rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie Rupp
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Chair of General Pathology & Neuropathology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Veterinärstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
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