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Xu X, Liu R, Li Y, Zhang C, Guo C, Zhu J, Dong J, Ouyang L, Momeni MR. Spinal Cord Injury: From MicroRNAs to Exosomal MicroRNAs. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5974-5991. [PMID: 38261255 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03954-7] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an unfortunate experience that may generate extensive sensory and motor disabilities due to the destruction and passing of nerve cells. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that do not code for proteins but instead serve to regulate protein synthesis by targeting messenger RNA's expression. After SCI, secondary damage like apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy occurs, and differentially expressed microRNAs show a function in these procedures. Almost all animal and plant cells release exosomes, which are sophisticated formations of lipid membranes. These exosomes have the capacity to deliver significant materials, such as proteins, RNAs and lipids, to cells in need, regulating their functions and serving as a way of communication. This new method offers a fresh approach to treating spinal cord injury. Obviously, the exosome has the benefit of conveying the transported material across performing regulatory activities and the blood-brain barrier. Among the exosome cargoes, microRNAs, which modulate their mRNA targets, show considerable promise in the pathogenic diagnosis, process, and therapy of SCI. Herein, we describe the roles of microRNAs in SCI. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of exosomal microRNAs in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyang Xu
- Spinal Surgery, Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Ruyin Liu
- Spinal Surgery, Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Yunpeng Li
- Spinal Surgery, Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Chuanghao Guo
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Jiong Zhu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Jiaan Dong
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China
| | - Liyun Ouyang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 11700, Malaysia.
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Jiang Y, Cai Y, Yang N, Gao S, Li Q, Pang Y, Su P. Molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury repair across vertebrates: A comparative review. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:4552-4568. [PMID: 38978308 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16462] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
In humans and other adult mammals, axon regeneration is difficult in axotomized neurons. Therefore, spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event that can lead to permanent loss of locomotor and sensory functions. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms of axon regeneration in vertebrates are not very well understood, and currently, no effective treatment is available for SCI. In striking contrast to adult mammals, many nonmammalian vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians, bony fishes and lampreys can spontaneously resume locomotion even after complete SCI. In recent years, rapid progress in the development of next-generation sequencing technologies has offered valuable information on SCI. In this review, we aimed to provide a comparison of axon regeneration process across classical model organisms, focusing on crucial genes and signalling pathways that play significant roles in the regeneration of individually identifiable descending neurons after SCI. Considering the special evolutionary location and powerful regenerative ability of lamprey and zebrafish, they will be the key model organisms for ongoing studies on spinal cord regeneration. Detailed study of SCI in these model organisms will help in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of neuron regeneration across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Jiang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Yang Cai
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Ning Yang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Si Gao
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Qingwei Li
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Yue Pang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
| | - Peng Su
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Lamprey Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, China
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Xie Y, Luo Z, Peng W, Liu Y, Yuan F, Xu J, Sun Y, Lu H, Wu T, Jiang L, Hu J. Inhibition of UTX/KDM6A improves recovery of spinal cord injury by attenuating BSCB permeability and macrophage infiltration through the MLCK/p-MLC pathway. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:259. [PMID: 37951955 PMCID: PMC10638785 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02936-1] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) can prompt an immediate disruption to the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). Restoring the integrity of this barrier is vital for the recovery of neurological function post-SCI. The UTX protein, a histone demethylase, has been shown in previous research to promote vascular regeneration and neurological recovery in mice with SCI. However, it is unclear whether UTX knockout could facilitate the recovery of the BSCB by reducing its permeability. In this study, we systematically studied BSCB disruption and permeability at different time points after SCI and found that conditional UTX deletion in endothelial cells (ECs) can reduce BSCB permeability, decrease inflammatory cell infiltration and ROS production, and improve neurological function recovery after SCI. Subsequently, we used RNA sequencing and ChIP-qPCR to confirm that conditional UTX knockout in ECs can down-regulate expression of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), which specifically mediates myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and is involved in actin contraction, cell retraction, and tight junctions (TJs) protein integrity. Moreover, we found that MLCK overexpression can increase the ratio of p-MLC/MLC, further break TJs, and exacerbate BSCB deterioration. Overall, our findings indicate that UTX knockout could inhibit the MLCK/p-MLC pathway, resulting in decreased BSCB permeability, and ultimately promoting neurological recovery in mice. These results suggest that UTX is a promising new target for treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Xie
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zixiang Luo
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Peng
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yudong Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feifei Yuan
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hongbin Lu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tianding Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Liyuan Jiang
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jianzhong Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Wu Z, Li C, Zhu R, Cao Y, Chen TC, Cheng L. Reduced non-CpG methylation is a potential epigenetic target after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:2489-2496. [PMID: 37282481 PMCID: PMC10360082 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.371399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic regulator in the occurrence and development of diseases and is closely related to various functional responses in relation to spinal cord injury. To investigate the role of DNA methylation in spinal cord injury, we constructed a library with reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing data obtained at various time points (day 0-42) after spinal cord injury in mice. Global DNA methylation levels, specifically non-CpG (CHG and CHH) methylation levels, decreased modestly following spinal cord injury. Stages post-spinal cord injury were classified as early (day 0-3), intermediate (day 7-14), and late (day 28-42) based on similarity and hierarchical clustering of global DNA methylation patterns. The non-CpG methylation level, which included CHG and CHH methylation levels, was markedly reduced despite accounting for a minor proportion of total methylation abundance. At multiple genomic sites, including the 5' untranslated regions, promoter, exon, intron, and 3' untranslated regions, the non-CpG methylation level was markedly decreased following spinal cord injury, whereas the CpG methylation level remained unchanged at these locations. Approximately one-half of the differentially methylated regions were located in intergenic areas; the other differentially methylated regions in both CpG and non-CpG regions were clustered in intron regions, where the DNA methylation level was highest. The function of genes associated with differentially methylated regions in promoter regions was also investigated. From Gene Ontology analysis results, DNA methylation was implicated in a number of essential functional responses to spinal cord injury, including neuronal synaptic connection creation and axon regeneration. Notably, neither CpG methylation nor non-CpG methylation was implicated in the functional response of glial or inflammatory cells. In summary, our work elucidated the dynamic pattern of DNA methylation in the spinal cord following injury and identified reduced non-CpG methylation as an epigenetic target after spinal cord injury in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhourui Wu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education; Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine; Institute of Spinal and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Li
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education; Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine; Institute of Spinal and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education; Institute of Spinal and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiqiu Cao
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education; Institute of Spinal and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Thomas C Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medical, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liming Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education; Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine; Institute of Spinal and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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5
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Scholpa NE. Role of DNA methylation during recovery from spinal cord injury with and without β 2-adrenergic receptor agonism. Exp Neurol 2023; 368:114494. [PMID: 37488045 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114494] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Daily treatment with the FDA-approved β2-adrenergic receptor agonist formoterol beginning 8 h after severe spinal cord injury (SCI) induces mitochondrial biogenesis and improves recovery in mice. We observed decreased DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) expression, global DNA methylation and methylation of the mitochondrial genes PGC-1α and NDUFS1 in the injury site of formoterol-treated mice 1 DPI, but this effect was lost by 7 DPI. To investigate the role of DNA methylation on recovery post-SCI, injured mice were treated daily with formoterol or vehicle, plus the DNMT inhibitor decitabine (DAC) on days 7-9. While DAC had no apparent effect on formoterol-induced recovery, mice treated with vehicle plus DAC exhibited increased BMS scores compared to vehicle alone beginning 15 DPI, reaching a degree of functional recovery similar to that of formoterol-treated mice by 21 DPI. Furthermore, DAC treatment increased injury site mitochondrial protein expression in vehicle-treated mice to levels comparable to that of formoterol-treated mice. The effect of DNMT inhibition on pain response with and without formoterol was assessed following moderate SCI. While all injured mice not treated with DAC displayed thermal hyperalgesia by 21 DPI, mice treated with formoterol exhibited decreased thermal hyperalgesia compared to vehicle-treated mice by 35 DPI. Injured mice treated with DAC, regardless of formoterol treatment, did not demonstrate thermal hyperalgesia at any time point assessed. Although these data do not suggest enhanced formoterol-induced recovery with DNMT inhibition, our findings indicate the importance of DNA methylation post-SCI and support both DNMT inhibition and formoterol as potential therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie E Scholpa
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.
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Gupta S, Dutta S, Hui SP. Regenerative Potential of Injured Spinal Cord in the Light of Epigenetic Regulation and Modulation. Cells 2023; 12:1694. [PMID: 37443728 PMCID: PMC10341208 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A spinal cord injury is a form of physical harm imposed on the spinal cord that causes disability and, in many cases, leads to permanent mammalian paralysis, which causes a disastrous global issue. Because of its non-regenerative aspect, restoring the spinal cord's role remains one of the most daunting tasks. By comparison, the remarkable regenerative ability of some regeneration-competent species, such as some Urodeles (Axolotl), Xenopus, and some teleost fishes, enables maximum functional recovery, even after complete spinal cord transection. During the last two decades of intensive research, significant progress has been made in understanding both regenerative cells' origins and the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying the regeneration and reconstruction of damaged spinal cords in regenerating organisms and mammals, respectively. Epigenetic control has gradually moved into the center stage of this research field, which has been helped by comprehensive work demonstrating that DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs are important for the regeneration of the spinal cord. In this review, we concentrate primarily on providing a comparison of the epigenetic mechanisms in spinal cord injuries between non-regenerating and regenerating species. In addition, we further discuss the epigenetic mediators that underlie the development of a regeneration-permissive environment following injury in regeneration-competent animals and how such mediators may be implicated in optimizing treatment outcomes for spinal cord injurie in higher-order mammals. Finally, we briefly discuss the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the context of spinal cord injury and their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samudra Gupta
- S.N. Pradhan Centre for Neurosciences, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, India;
| | - Suman Dutta
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK;
| | - Subhra Prakash Hui
- S.N. Pradhan Centre for Neurosciences, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, India;
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Xie J, Herr S, Ma D, Wu S, Zhao H, Sun S, Ma Z, Chan MYL, Li K, Yang Y, Huang F, Shi R, Yuan C. Acute Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Alterations at T12 After Rat T10 Spinal Cord Contusive Injury. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2937-2953. [PMID: 36750527 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03250-w] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a severely debilitating condition affecting a significant population in the USA. Spinal cord injury patients often have increased risk of developing persistent neuropathic pain and other neurodegenerative conditions beyond the primary lesion center later in their life. The molecular mechanism conferring to the "latent" damages at distal tissues, however, remains elusive. Here, we studied molecular changes conferring abnormal functionality at distal spinal cord (T12) beyond the lesion center (T10) by combining next-generation sequencing (RNA- and bisulfite sequencing), super-resolution microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining at 7 days post injury. We observed significant transcriptomic changes primarily enriched in neuroinflammation and synaptogenesis associated pathways. Transcription factors (TFs) that regulate neurogenesis and neuron plasticity, including Egr1, Klf4, and Myc, are significantly upregulated. Along with global changes in chromatin arrangements and DNA methylation, including 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), bisulfite sequencing further reveals the involvement of DNA methylation changes in regulating cytokine, growth factor, and ion channel expression. Collectively, our results pave the way towards understanding transcriptomic and epigenomic mechanism in conferring long-term disease risks at distal tissues away from the primary lesion center and shed light on potential molecular targets that govern the regulatory mechanism at distal spinal cord tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junkai Xie
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Seth Herr
- Center for Paralysis Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Donghan Ma
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Shichen Wu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Han Zhao
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Siyuan Sun
- Center for Paralysis Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Zhixiong Ma
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Matthew Yan-Lok Chan
- Agriculture and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Katherine Li
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Fang Huang
- Agriculture and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Riyi Shi
- Center for Paralysis Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Purdue Center of Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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8
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Wiggins JW, Sledd JE, Coolen LM. Spinal Cord Injury Causes Reduction of Galanin and Gastrin Releasing Peptide mRNA Expression in the Spinal Ejaculation Generator of Male Rats. Front Neurol 2021; 12:670536. [PMID: 34239493 PMCID: PMC8258150 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.670536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) in men is commonly associated with sexual dysfunction, including anejaculation, and chronic mid-thoracic contusion injury in male rats also impairs ejaculatory reflexes. Ejaculation is controlled by a spinal ejaculation generator consisting of a population of lumbar spinothalamic (LSt) neurons that control ejaculation through release of four neuropeptides including galanin and gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) onto lumbar and sacral autonomic and motor nuclei. It was recently demonstrated that spinal contusion injury in male rats caused reduction of GRP-immunoreactivity, but not galanin-immunoreactivity in LSt cells, indicative of reduced GRP peptide levels, but inconclusive results for galanin. The current study further tests the hypothesis that contusion injury causes a disruption of GRP and galanin mRNA in LSt cells. Male rats received mid-thoracic contusion injury and galanin and GRP mRNA were visualized 8 weeks later in the lumbar spinal cord using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Spinal cord injury significantly reduced GRP and galanin mRNA in LSt cells. Galanin expression was higher in LSt cells compared to GRP. However, expression of the two transcripts were positively correlated in LSt cells in both sham and SCI animals, suggesting that expression for the two neuropeptides may be co-regulated. Immunofluorescent visualization of galanin and GRP peptides demonstrated a significant reduction in GRP-immunoreactivity, but not galanin in LSt cells, confirming the previous observations. In conclusion, SCI reduced GRP and galanin expression in LSt cells with an apparent greater impact on GRP peptide levels. GRP and galanin are both essential for triggering ejaculation and thus such reduction may contribute to ejaculatory dysfunction following SCI in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Wiggins
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Jonathan E Sledd
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Lique M Coolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
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MicroRNA-145-Mediated KDM6A Downregulation Enhances Neural Repair after Spinal Cord Injury via the NOTCH2/Abcb1a Axis. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:2580619. [PMID: 34122720 PMCID: PMC8169274 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2580619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes a significant physical, emotional, social, and economic burden to millions of people. MicroRNAs are known players in the regulatory circuitry of the neural repair in SCI. However, most microRNAs remain uncharacterized. Here, we demonstrate the neuroprotection of microRNA-145 (miR-145) after SCI in vivo and in vitro. In silico analysis predicted the target gene KDM6A of miR-145. The rat SCI model was developed by weight drop, and lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced PC12 cell inflammatory injury model was also established. We manipulated the expression of miR-145 and/or KDM6A both in vivo and in vitro to explain their roles in rat neurological functional recovery as well as PC12 cell activities and inflammation. Furthermore, we delineated the mechanistic involvement of NOTCH2 and Abcb1a in the neuroprotection of miR-145. According to the results, miR-145 was poorly expressed and KDM6A was highly expressed in the spinal cord tissue of the SCI rat model and LPS-induced PC12 cells. Overexpression of miR-145 protects PC12 cells from LPS-induced cell damage and expedites neurological functional recovery of SCI in rats. miR-145 was validated to target and downregulate the demethylase KDM6A expression, thus abrogating the expression of Abcb1a by promoting the methylation of NOTCH2. Additionally, in vivo findings verified that miR-145 expedites neuroprotection after SCI by regulating the KDM6A/NOTCH2/Abcb1a axis. Taken together, miR-145 confers neuroprotective effects and enhances neural repair after SCI through the KDM6A-mediated NOTCH2/Abcb1a axis.
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10
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Li X, Liu R, Yu Z, He D, Zong W, Wang M, Xie M, Wang W, Luo X. Microglial Hv1 exacerbates secondary damage after spinal cord injury in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 525:S0006-291X(20)30272-2. [PMID: 32087974 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pathological process of spinal cord injury (SCI) is complex, particularly during secondary damage that triggers a multiphasic glial reaction consisting of both detrimental and beneficial effects. Deletion of a novel voltage-gated proton channel (Hv1) functionally expressed in microglia has been shown to confer neuroprotection during ischemic stroke. Here, we hypothesized that microglial Hv1 may also participate in the process of SCI through modulating glial responses. To test this hypothesis, we employed an SCI model in Hv1-knockout (Hv1-/-) and wild type (WT) mice and assessed resulting microglial polarization, accumulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, astrocytic activation, oligodendrocytic apoptosis, lesion sizes, and demyelinated areas. Compared with post-SCI results in WT mice, post-SCI Hv1-/- mice exhibited an M2-dominant microglial polarization, decreased accumulation of microglia, and reduced production of pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Additionally, Hv1-/- mice had significantly attenuated reactive astrogliosis and reduced expression of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) after SCI. Furthermore, Hv1 deficiency reduced SCI-induced oligodendrocytic apoptosis, demyelinated areas, and cavity formation. Collectively, our results provide the first evidence suggesting that microglial Hv1 may be a multi-mechanism therapeutic target for the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Li
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Dan He
- Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weifeng Zong
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Minghuan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Minjie Xie
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiang Luo
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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11
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Shi G, Zhou X, Wang X, Zhang X, Zhang P, Feng S. Signatures of altered DNA methylation gene expression after central and peripheral nerve injury. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:5171-5181. [PMID: 31691285 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Nerve damage can lead to movement and sensory dysfunction, with high morbidity and disability rates causing severe burdens on patients, families, and society. DNA methylation is a kind of epigenetics, and a great number of previous studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation plays an important role in the process of nerve regeneration and remodeling. However, compared with the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system shows stronger recovery after injury, which is related to the complex microenvironment and epigenetic changes occurring at the site of injury. Therefore, what common epigenetic changes between the central and peripheral nervous systems remain to be elucidated. We first screened differential methylation genes after spinal cord injury and sciatic nerve injury using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, respectively. Subsequently, a total of 16 genes had the same epigenetic changes after spinal cord injury and sciatic nerve injury. The Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis were performed to identify the critical biological processes and pathways. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated that Dnm3, Ntrk3, Smurf1, Dpysl2, Kalrn, Shank1, Dlg2, Arsb, Reln, Bmp5, Numbl, Prickle2, Map6, and Htr7 were the core genes. These outcomes may provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of the subacute phase of nerve injury. These verified genes can offer potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guidong Shi
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xianhu Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiqing Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Spinal Cord Injury, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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12
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Wiggins JW, Kozyrev N, Sledd JE, Wilson GG, Coolen LM. Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Reduces Gastrin-Releasing Peptide in the Spinal Ejaculation Generator in Male Rats. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:3378-3393. [PMID: 31111794 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes sexual dysfunction, including anejaculation in men. Likewise, chronic mid-thoracic contusion injury impairs ejaculatory reflexes in male rats. Ejaculation is controlled by a spinal ejaculation generator (SEG) comprised of a population of lumbar spinothalamic (LSt) neurons. LSt neurons co-express four neuropeptides, including gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and galanin and control ejaculation via release of these peptides in lumbar and sacral autonomic and motor nuclei. Here, we tested the hypothesis that contusion injury causes a disruption of the neuropeptides that are expressed in LSt cell bodies and axon terminals, thereby causing ejaculatory dysfunction. Male Sprague Dawley rats received contusion or sham surgery at spinal levels T6-7. Five to six weeks later, animals were perfused and spinal cords were immunoprocessed for galanin and GRP. Results showed that numbers of cells immunoreactive for galanin were not altered by SCI, suggesting that LSt cells are not ablated by SCI. In contrast, GRP immunoreactivity was decreased in LSt cells following SCI, evidenced by fewer GRP and galanin/GRP dual labeled cells. However, SCI did not affect efferent connections of LSt, cells as axon terminals containing galanin or GRP in contact with autonomic cells were not reduced following SCI. Finally, no changes in testosterone plasma levels or androgen receptor expression were noted after SCI. In conclusion, chronic contusion injury decreased immunoreactivity for GRP in LSt cell soma, but did not affect LSt neurons per se or LSt connections within the SEG. Since GRP is essential for triggering ejaculation, such loss may contribute to ejaculatory dysfunction following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Walker Wiggins
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Natalie Kozyrev
- Robarts Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan E Sledd
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - George G Wilson
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Lique M Coolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
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13
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Wahane S, Halawani D, Zhou X, Zou H. Epigenetic Regulation Of Axon Regeneration and Glial Activation in Injury Responses. Front Genet 2019; 10:640. [PMID: 31354788 PMCID: PMC6629966 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Injury to the nervous system triggers a multicellular response in which epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in regulating cell type-specific transcriptional changes. Here, we summarize recent progress in characterizing neuronal intrinsic and extrinsic chromatin reconfigurations and epigenetic changes triggered by axonal injury that shape neuroplasticity and glial functions. We specifically discuss regeneration-associated transcriptional modules comprised of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators that control axon growth competence. We also review epigenetic regulation of neuroinflammation and astroglial responses that impact neural repair. These advances provide a framework for developing epigenetic strategies to maximize adaptive alterations while minimizing maladaptive stress responses in order to enhance axon regeneration and achieve functional recovery after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalaka Wahane
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dalia Halawani
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongyan Zou
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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14
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Pandamooz S, Salehi MS, Zibaii MI, Safari A, Nabiuni M, Ahmadiani A, Dargahi L. Modeling traumatic injury in organotypic spinal cord slice culture obtained from adult rat. Tissue Cell 2019; 56:90-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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15
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Nagalakshmi B., Sagarkar S, Sakharkar AJ. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Traumatic Brain Injuries. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 157:263-298. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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16
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Zuo YC, Xiong NX, Zhao HY. Stereotactic injection of shrna GSK-3β-AAV promotes axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 36:548-553. [PMID: 27465331 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-016-1623-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Evidence suggested that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is involved in Nogo-66 inhibiting axonal regeneration in vitro, but its effect in vivo was poorly understood. We showed that stereotactic injection of shRNA GSK-3β-adeno associated virus (GSK-3β-AAV) diminished syringomyelia and promoted axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI), using stereotactic injection of shRNA GSK-3β-AAV (tested with Western blotting and RT-PCR) into the sensorimotor cortex of rats with SCI and by the detection of biotin dextran amine (BDA)-labeled axonal regeneration. We also determined the right position to inject into the sensorimotor cortex. Our findings consolidate the hypothesis that downregulation of GSK-3β promotes axonal regeneration after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chao Zuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Nan-Xiang Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Hong-Yang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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17
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Wong VS, Langley B. Epigenetic changes following traumatic brain injury and their implications for outcome, recovery and therapy. Neurosci Lett 2016; 625:26-33. [PMID: 27155457 PMCID: PMC4915732 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to nearly a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States. For survivors of TBI, depending on severity, patients can be left with devastating neurological disabilities that include impaired cognition or memory, movement, sensation, or emotional function. Despite the efforts to identify novel therapeutics, the only strategy to combat TBI is risk reduction (helmets, seatbelts, removal of fall hazards, etc.). Enormous heterogeneity exists within TBI, and it depends on the severity, the location, and whether the injury was focal or diffuse. Evidence from recent studies support the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, chromatin post-translational modification, and miRNA regulation of gene expression in the post-injured brain. In this review, we discuss studies that have assessed epigenetic changes and mechanisms following TBI, how epigenetic changes might not only be limited to the nucleus but also impact the mitochondria, and the implications of these changes with regard to TBI recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor S Wong
- Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, United States
| | - Brett Langley
- Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, United States; Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 525 E. 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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18
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Chen J, Laramore C, Shifman MI. Differential expression of HDACs and KATs in high and low regeneration capacity neurons during spinal cord regeneration. Exp Neurol 2016; 280:50-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Anwar MA, Al Shehabi TS, Eid AH. Inflammogenesis of Secondary Spinal Cord Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:98. [PMID: 27147970 PMCID: PMC4829593 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal infarction lead to neurological complications and eventually to paraplegia or quadriplegia. These extremely debilitating conditions are major contributors to morbidity. Our understanding of SCI has certainly increased during the last decade, but remains far from clear. SCI consists of two defined phases: the initial impact causes primary injury, which is followed by a prolonged secondary injury consisting of evolving sub-phases that may last for years. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms driving this condition are complex. Derangement of the vasculature is a notable feature of the pathology of SCI. In particular, an important component of SCI is the ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) that leads to endothelial dysfunction and changes in vascular permeability. Indeed, together with endothelial cell damage and failure in homeostasis, ischemia reperfusion injury triggers full-blown inflammatory cascades arising from activation of residential innate immune cells (microglia and astrocytes) and infiltrating leukocytes (neutrophils and macrophages). These inflammatory cells release neurotoxins (proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, free radicals, excitotoxic amino acids, nitric oxide (NO)), all of which partake in axonal and neuronal deficit. Therefore, our review considers the recent advances in SCI mechanisms, whereby it becomes clear that SCI is a heterogeneous condition. Hence, this leads towards evidence of a restorative approach based on monotherapy with multiple targets or combinatorial treatment. Moreover, from evaluation of the existing literature, it appears that there is an urgent requirement for multi-centered, randomized trials for a large patient population. These clinical studies would offer an opportunity in stratifying SCI patients at high risk and selecting appropriate, optimal therapeutic regimens for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Akhtar Anwar
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar University Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Ali H Eid
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Qatar UniversityDoha, Qatar; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of BeirutBeirut, Lebanon
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20
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Sámano C, Kaur J, Nistri A. A study of methylprednisolone neuroprotection against acute injury to the rat spinal cord in vitro. Neuroscience 2015; 315:136-49. [PMID: 26701292 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) has been proposed as a first-line treatment for acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Its clinical use remains, however, controversial because of the modest benefits and numerous side-effects. We investigated if MPSS could protect spinal neurons and glia using an in vitro model of the rat spinal cord that enables recording reflexes, fictive locomotion and morphological analysis of damage. With this model, a differential lesion affecting mainly either neurons or glia can be produced via kainate-evoked excitotoxicity or application of a pathological medium (lacking O2 and glucose), respectively. MPSS (6-10 μM) applied for 24 h after 1-h pathological medium protected astrocytes and oligodendrocytes especially in the ventrolateral white matter. This effect was accompanied by the return of slow, alternating oscillations (elicited by NMDA and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) reminiscent of a sluggish fictive locomotor pattern. MPSS was, however, unable to reverse even a moderate neuronal loss and the concomitant suppression of fictive locomotion evoked by kainate (0.1 mM; 1 h). These results suggest that MPSS could, at least in part, contrast damage to spinal glia induced by a dysmetabolic state (associated to oxygen and glucose deprivation) and facilitate reactivation of spinal networks. Conversely, when even a minority of neurons was damaged by excitotoxicity, MPSS did not protect them nor did it restore network function in the current experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sámano
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Cuajimalpa, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J Kaur
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - A Nistri
- Neuroscience Department, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy; SPINAL (Spinal Person Injury Neurorehabilitation Applied Laboratory) Laboratory, Istituto di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitazione, Udine, Italy.
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21
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Cox A, Varma A, Banik N. Recent advances in the pharmacologic treatment of spinal cord injury. Metab Brain Dis 2015; 30:473-82. [PMID: 24833553 PMCID: PMC4233197 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-014-9547-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A need exists for the effective treatment of individuals suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms occurring in SCI have resulted in an expansion of new therapeutic targets. This review summarizes both preclinical and clinical findings investigating the mechanisms and cognate pharmacologic therapeutics targeted to modulate hypoxia, ischemia, excitotoxicity, inflammation, apoptosis, epigenetic alterations, myelin regeneration and scar remodeling. Successful modulation of these targets has been demonstrated in both preclinical and clinical studies with agents such as Oxycyte, Minocycline, Riluzole, Premarin, Cethrin, and ATI-355. The translation of these agents into clinical studies highlights the progress the field has made in the past decade. SCI proves to be a complex condition; the numerous pathophysiological mechanisms occurring at varying time points suggests that a single agent approach to the treatment of SCI may not be optimal. As the field continues to mature, the hope is that the knowledge gained from these studies will be applied to the development of an effective multi-pronged treatment strategy for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- April Cox
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas ST. MSC606, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA,
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22
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WONG JK, ZOU H. Reshaping the chromatin landscape after spinal cord injury. FRONTIERS IN BIOLOGY 2014; 9:356-366. [PMID: 25554728 PMCID: PMC4280023 DOI: 10.1007/s11515-014-1329-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiology underlying spinal cord injury is complex. Mechanistic understanding of the adaptive responses to injury is critical for targeted therapy aimed at reestablishing lost connections between proximal and distal neurons. After injury, cell-type specific gene transcription programs govern distinct cellular behaviors, and chromatin regulators play a central role in shaping the chromatin landscape to adjust transcriptional profiles in a context-dependent manner. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the pleiotropic roles of chromatin regulators in mediating the diverse adaptive behaviors of neurons and glial cells after spinal cord injury, and wherever possible, discuss the underlying mechanisms and genomic targets. We specifically draw attention to the perspective that takes into consideration the impact of epigenetic modulation on axon growth potential, together with its effect on wound-healing properties of glial cells. Epigenetic modulation of chromatin state represents an emerging therapeutic direction to promote neural repair and axon regeneration after spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie K. WONG
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hongyan ZOU
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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23
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Basso M, Sleiman S, Ratan RR. Looking above but not beyond the genome for therapeutics in neurology and psychiatry: epigenetic proteins and RNAs find a new focus. Neurotherapeutics 2013; 10:551-5. [PMID: 24092616 PMCID: PMC3805863 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-013-0225-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Basso
- />Burke Medical Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
- />Centre for Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Sama Sleiman
- />Burke Medical Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
- />Molecular Neurobiology Program, Skirball Institute of Bimolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Rajiv R. Ratan
- />Burke Medical Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
- />Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
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24
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Elder J, Cortes M, Rykman A, Hill J, Karuppagounder S, Edwards D, Ratan RR. The epigenetics of stroke recovery and rehabilitation: from polycomb to histone deacetylases. Neurotherapeutics 2013; 10:808-16. [PMID: 24092615 PMCID: PMC3805866 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-013-0224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Classical de-afferentation studies, as well as experience-dependent visual plasticity paradigms, have confirmed that both the developing and adult nervous system are capable of unexpected levels of plasticity. This capacity is underscored by the significant spontaneous recovery that can occur in patients with mild-to-moderate impairment following stroke. An evolving model is that an interaction of biological and environmental factors during all epochs post-stroke influences the extent and quality of this plasticity. Here, we discuss data that have implicated specific epigenetic proteins as integrators of environmental influences in 3 aspects of stroke recovery: spontaneous impairment reduction in humans; peri-infarct rewiring in animals as a paradigm for developing therapeutically-driven impairment reduction beyond natural spontaneous recovery; and, finally, classical hippocampal learning and memory paradigms that are theoretically important in skill acquisition for both impairment reduction and compensatory strategies in the rehabilitation setting. Our discussion focuses primarily on B lymphoma Mo-MLV1 insertion region proteins of the polycomb repressive complex, alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked chromatin remodeling factors, and the best known and most dynamic gene repressors, histone deacetylases. We will highlight exciting current data associated with these proteins and provide promising speculation about how they can be manipulated by drugs, biologics, or noninvasive stimulation for stroke recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Elder
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Department of Epidemiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Mar Cortes
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Avrielle Rykman
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
| | - Justin Hill
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Saravanan Karuppagounder
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Dylan Edwards
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
| | - Rajiv R. Ratan
- />Center for Stroke Recovery, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, New York, 10605 NY USA
- />Department of Neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
- />Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY USA
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