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Lukomska A, Rheaume BA, Frost MP, Theune WC, Xing J, Damania A, Trakhtenberg EF. Augmenting fibronectin levels in injured adult CNS promotes axon regeneration in vivo. Exp Neurol 2024; 379:114877. [PMID: 38944331 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114877] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
In an attempt to repair injured central nervous system (CNS) nerves/tracts, immune cells are recruited into the injury site, but endogenous response in adult mammals is insufficient for promoting regeneration of severed axons. Here, we found that a portion of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) CNS projection neurons that survive after optic nerve crush (ONC) injury are enriched for and upregulate fibronectin (Fn)-interacting integrins Itga5 and ItgaV, and that Fn promotes long-term survival and long-distance axon regeneration of a portion of axotomized adult RGCs in culture. We then show that, Fn is developmentally downregulated in the axonal tracts of optic nerve and spinal cord, but injury-activated macrophages/microglia upregulate Fn while axon regeneration-promoting zymosan augments their recruitment (and thereby increases Fn levels) in the injured optic nerve. Finally, we found that Fn's RGD motif, established to interact with Itga5 and ItgaV, promotes long-term survival and long-distance axon regeneration of adult RGCs after ONC in vivo, with some axons reaching the optic chiasm when co-treated with Rpl7a gene therapy. Thus, experimentally augmenting Fn levels in the injured CNS is a promising approach for therapeutic neuroprotection and axon regeneration of at least a portion of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Lukomska
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Bruce A Rheaume
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Matthew P Frost
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - William C Theune
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Jian Xing
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ashiti Damania
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA..
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2
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Corticospinal Motor Circuit Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury: Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Improve Functional Outcomes. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5494-5516. [PMID: 34341881 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that affects approximately 294,000 people in the USA and several millions worldwide. The corticospinal motor circuitry plays a major role in controlling skilled movements and in planning and coordinating movements in mammals and can be damaged by SCI. While axonal regeneration of injured fibers over long distances is scarce in the adult CNS, substantial spontaneous neural reorganization and plasticity in the spared corticospinal motor circuitry has been shown in experimental SCI models, associated with functional recovery. Beneficially harnessing this neuroplasticity of the corticospinal motor circuitry represents a highly promising therapeutic approach for improving locomotor outcomes after SCI. Several different strategies have been used to date for this purpose including neuromodulation (spinal cord/brain stimulation strategies and brain-machine interfaces), rehabilitative training (targeting activity-dependent plasticity), stem cells and biological scaffolds, neuroregenerative/neuroprotective pharmacotherapies, and light-based therapies like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photobiomodulation (PMBT). This review provides an overview of the spontaneous reorganization and neuroplasticity in the corticospinal motor circuitry after SCI and summarizes the various therapeutic approaches used to beneficially harness this neuroplasticity for functional recovery after SCI in preclinical animal model and clinical human patients' studies.
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3
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Binamé F, Pham-Van LD, Bagnard D. Manipulating oligodendrocyte intrinsic regeneration mechanism to promote remyelination. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5257-5273. [PMID: 34019104 PMCID: PMC11073109 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03852-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In demyelinated lesions, astrocytes, activated microglia and infiltrating macrophages secrete several factors regulating oligodendrocyte precursor cells' behaviour. What appears to be the initiation of an intrinsic mechanism of myelin repair is only leading to partial recovery and inefficient remyelination, a process worsening over the course of the disease. This failure is largely due to the concomitant accumulation of inhibitory cues in and around the lesion sites opposing to growth promoting factors. Here starts a complex game of interactions between the signalling pathways controlling oligodendrocytes migration or differentiation. Receptors of positive or negative cues are modulating Ras, PI3K or RhoGTPases pathways acting on oligodendrocyte cytoskeleton remodelling. From the description of this intricate signalling network, this review addresses the extent to which the modulation of the global response to inhibitory cues may pave the route towards novel therapeutic approaches for myelin repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Binamé
- INSERM U1119, Biopathology of Myelin, Neuroprotection and Therapeutic Strategy (BMNST Lab), Labex Medalis, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Pôle API, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie, 300 Boulevard Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch, France
| | - Lucas D Pham-Van
- INSERM U1119, Biopathology of Myelin, Neuroprotection and Therapeutic Strategy (BMNST Lab), Labex Medalis, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Pôle API, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie, 300 Boulevard Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch, France
| | - Dominique Bagnard
- INSERM U1119, Biopathology of Myelin, Neuroprotection and Therapeutic Strategy (BMNST Lab), Labex Medalis, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Pôle API, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie, 300 Boulevard Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch, France.
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4
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Tan BT, Jiang H, Moulson AJ, Wu XL, Wang WC, Liu J, Plunet WT, Tetzlaff W. Neuroprotective effects of a ketogenic diet in combination with exogenous ketone salts following acute spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:1912-1919. [PMID: 32246640 PMCID: PMC7513973 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.280327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that induction of ketosis by ketogenic diet (KD) conveyed neuroprotection following spinal cord injury in rodent models, however, clinical translation may be limited by the slow raise of ketone levels when applying KD in the acute post-injury period. Thus we investigated the use of exogenous ketone supplementation (ketone sodium, KS) combined with ketogenic diet as a means rapidly inducing a metabolic state of ketosis following spinal cord injury in adult rats. In uninjured rats, ketone levels increased more rapidly than those in rats with KD alone and peaked at higher levels than we previously demonstrated for the KD in models of spinal cord injury. However, ketone levels in KD + KS treated rats with SCI did not exceed the previously observed levels in rats treated with KD alone. We still demonstrated neuroprotective effects of KD + KS treatment that extend our previous neuroprotective observations with KD only. The results showed increased neuronal and axonal sparing in the dorsal corticospinal tract. Also, better performance of forelimb motor abilities were observed on the Montoya staircase (for testing food pellets reaching) at 4 and 6 weeks post-injury and rearing in a cylinder (for testing forelimb usage) at 6 and 8 weeks post-injury. Taken together, the findings of this study add to the growing body of work demonstrating the potential benefits of inducing ketosis following neurotrauma. Ketone salt combined with a ketogenic diet gavage in rats with acute spinal cord injury can rapidly increase ketone body levels in the blood and promote motor function recovery. This study was approved by the Animal Care Committee of the University of British Columbia (protocol No. A14-350) on August 31, 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Tao Tan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hui Jiang
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Spinal Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Aaron J Moulson
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiao-Liang Wu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen-Chun Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jie Liu
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ward T Plunet
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wolfram Tetzlaff
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Center; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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5
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Yu H, Zhao T, Liu S, Wu Q, Johnson O, Wu Z, Zhuang Z, Shi Y, Peng L, He R, Yang Y, Sun J, Wang X, Xu H, Zeng Z, Zou P, Lei X, Luo W, Li Y. MRGPRX4 is a bile acid receptor for human cholestatic itch. eLife 2019; 8:48431. [PMID: 31500698 PMCID: PMC6773440 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with liver diseases often suffer from chronic itch, yet the pruritogen(s) and receptor(s) remain largely elusive. Here, we identify bile acids as natural ligands for MRGPRX4. MRGPRX4 is expressed in human dorsal root ganglion (hDRG) neurons and co-expresses with itch receptor HRH1. Bile acids elicited Ca2+ responses in cultured hDRG neurons, and bile acids or a MRGPRX4 specific agonist induced itch in human subjects. However, a specific agonist for another bile acid receptor TGR5 failed to induce itch in human subjects and we find that human TGR5 is not expressed in hDRG neurons. Finally, we show positive correlation between cholestatic itch and plasma bile acids level in itchy patients and the elevated bile acids is sufficient to activate MRGPRX4. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that MRGPRX4 is a novel bile acid receptor that likely underlies cholestatic itch in human, providing a promising new drug target for anti-itch therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huasheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianjun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Simin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qinxue Wu
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Omar Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Zhaofa Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zihao Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaocheng Shi
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Luxin Peng
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Renxi He
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianjun Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haifeng Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zou
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Lei
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqin Luo
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
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6
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Tang BL. Promoting axonal regeneration through exosomes: An update of recent findings on exosomal PTEN and mTOR modifiers. Brain Res Bull 2018; 143:123-131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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7
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Kim J, Sajid MS, Trakhtenberg EF. The extent of extra-axonal tissue damage determines the levels of CSPG upregulation and the success of experimental axon regeneration in the CNS. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9839. [PMID: 29959434 PMCID: PMC6026156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28209-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The failure of mature central nervous system (CNS) projection neurons to regenerate axons over long distances drastically limits the recovery of functions lost after various CNS injuries and diseases. Although a number of manipulations that stimulate some degree of axon regeneration that overcomes the inhibitory environment after CNS injury have been discovered, the extent of regeneration remains very limited, emphasizing the need for improved therapies. Regenerating axons need nerve tissue environment capable of supporting their growth, and severe extra-axonal tissue damage and remodeling after injury may disrupt such environment. Here, we used traumatic injury to the mouse optic nerve as a model system to investigate how the extent of extra-axonal tissue damage affects experimental axon regeneration. Axon regeneration was stimulated by the shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of Pten gene expression in the retinal ganglion cells, and the extent of extra-axonal tissue damage was varied by changing the duration of optic nerve crush. Although no axons were spared using either 1 or 5 seconds crush, we found that Pten KD-stimulated axon regeneration was significantly reduced in 5 seconds compared with 1 second crush. The more severe extra-axonal tissue damage did not cause tissue atrophy, but led to significantly higher upregulation of axon growth-inhibiting chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) in the glial scar and also enlarged glial scar size, compared with less severely damaged tissue. Thus, the success of axon-regenerating approaches that target neuronal intrinsic mechanisms of axon growth is dependent on the preservation of appropriate extra-axonal tissue environment, which may need to be co-concurrently repaired by tissue remodeling methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhwan Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Muhammad S Sajid
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT, 06117, USA
| | - Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, 06030, USA.
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8
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Trakhtenberg EF, Li Y, Feng Q, Tso J, Rosenberg PA, Goldberg JL, Benowitz LI. Zinc chelation and Klf9 knockdown cooperatively promote axon regeneration after optic nerve injury. Exp Neurol 2018; 300:22-29. [PMID: 29106981 PMCID: PMC5745290 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The inability of axons to regenerate over long-distances in the central nervous system (CNS) limits the recovery of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions after various CNS injuries and diseases. Although pre-clinical studies have identified a number of manipulations that stimulate some degree of axon growth after CNS damage, the extent of recovery remains quite limited, emphasizing the need for improved therapies. Here, we used traumatic injury to the mouse optic nerve as a model system to test the effects of combining several treatments that have recently been found to promote axon regeneration without the risks associated with manipulating known tumor suppressors or oncogenes. The treatments tested here include TPEN, a chelator of mobile (free) zinc (Zn2+); shRNA against the axon growth-suppressing transcription factor Klf9; and the atypical growth factor oncomodulin combined with a cAMP analog. Whereas some combinatorial treatments produced only marginally stronger effects than the individual treatments alone, co-treatment with TPEN and Klf9 knockdown had a substantially stronger effect on axon regeneration than either one alone. This combination also promoted a high level of cell survival at longer time points. Thus, Zn2+ chelation in combination with Klf9 suppression holds therapeutic potential for promoting axon regeneration after optic nerve injury, and may also be effective for treating other CNS injuries and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ephraim F Trakhtenberg
- Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Yiqing Li
- Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Qian Feng
- Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Janice Tso
- Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul A Rosenberg
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Larry I Benowitz
- Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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9
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Schomberg DT, Miranpuri GS, Chopra A, Patel K, Meudt JJ, Tellez A, Resnick DK, Shanmuganayagam D. Translational Relevance of Swine Models of Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2017; 34:541-551. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic T. Schomberg
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Gurwattan S. Miranpuri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Abhishek Chopra
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kush Patel
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jennifer J. Meudt
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
| | | | - Daniel K. Resnick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Dhanansayan Shanmuganayagam
- Biomedical and Genomic Research Group, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
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10
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Valtcheva MV, Copits BA, Davidson S, Sheahan TD, Pullen MY, McCall JG, Dikranian K, Gereau RW. Surgical extraction of human dorsal root ganglia from organ donors and preparation of primary sensory neuron cultures. Nat Protoc 2016; 11:1877-88. [PMID: 27606776 PMCID: PMC5082842 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2016.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Primary cultures of rodent sensory neurons are widely used to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in pain, itch, nerve injury and regeneration. However, translation of these preclinical findings may be greatly improved by direct validation in human tissues. We have developed an approach to extract and culture human sensory neurons in collaboration with a local organ procurement organization (OPO). Here we describe the surgical procedure for extraction of human dorsal root ganglia (hDRG) and the necessary modifications to existing culture techniques to prepare viable adult human sensory neurons for functional studies. Dissociated sensory neurons can be maintained in culture for >10 d, and they are amenable to electrophysiological recording, calcium imaging and viral gene transfer. The entire process of extraction and culturing can be completed in <7 h, and it can be performed by trained graduate students. This approach can be applied at any institution with access to organ donors consenting to tissue donation for research, and is an invaluable resource for improving translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manouela V Valtcheva
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Neurosciences Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bryan A Copits
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Steve Davidson
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Tayler D Sheahan
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Neurosciences Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Melanie Y Pullen
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.,Developmental, Regenerative, and Stem Cell Biology Program, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jordan G McCall
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Krikor Dikranian
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Robert W Gereau
- Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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11
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Minassian K, Hofstoetter US. Spinal Cord Stimulation and Augmentative Control Strategies for Leg Movement after Spinal Paralysis in Humans. CNS Neurosci Ther 2016; 22:262-70. [PMID: 26890324 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe spinal cord injury is a devastating condition, tearing apart long white matter tracts and causing paralysis and disability of body functions below the lesion. But caudal to most injuries, the majority of neurons forming the distributed propriospinal system, the localized gray matter spinal interneuronal circuitry, and spinal motoneuron populations are spared. Epidural spinal cord stimulation can gain access to this neural circuitry. This review focuses on the capability of the human lumbar spinal cord to generate stereotyped motor output underlying standing and stepping, as well as full weight-bearing standing and rhythmic muscle activation during assisted treadmill stepping in paralyzed individuals in response to spinal cord stimulation. By enhancing the excitability state of the spinal circuitry, the stimulation can have an enabling effect upon otherwise "silent" translesional volitional motor control. Strategies for achieving functional movement in patients with severe injuries based on minimal translesional intentional control, task-specific proprioceptive feedback, and next-generation spinal cord stimulation systems will be reviewed. The role of spinal cord stimulation can go well beyond the immediate generation of motor output. With recently developed training paradigms, it can become a major rehabilitation approach in spinal cord injury for augmenting and steering trans- and sublesional plasticity for lasting therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Minassian
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ursula S Hofstoetter
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Blocking the Nogo-A Signaling Pathway to Promote Regeneration and Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke. Transl Neurosci 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-7654-3_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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13
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Pires LR, Pêgo AP. Bridging the lesion-engineering a permissive substrate for nerve regeneration. Regen Biomater 2015; 2:203-14. [PMID: 26816642 PMCID: PMC4669012 DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbv012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterial-based strategies to restore connectivity after lesion at the spinal cord are focused on bridging the lesion and providing an favourable substrate and a path for axonal re-growth. Following spinal cord injury (SCI) a hostile environment for neuronal cell growth is established by the activation of multiple inhibitory mechanisms that hamper regeneration to occur. Implantable scaffolds can provide mechanical support and physical guidance for axon re-growth and, at the same time, contribute to alleviate the hostile environment by the in situ delivery of therapeutic molecules and/or relevant cells. Basic research on SCI has been contributing with the description of inhibitory mechanisms for regeneration as well as identifying drugs/molecules that can target inhibition. This knowledge is the background for the development of combined strategies with biomaterials. Additionally, scaffold design is significantly evolving. From the early simple hollow conduits, scaffolds with complex architectures that can modulate cell fate are currently being tested. A number of promising pre-clinical studies combining scaffolds, cells, drugs and/or nucleic acids are reported in the open literature. Overall, it is considered that to address the multi-factorial inhibitory environment of a SCI, a multifaceted therapeutic approach is imperative. The progress in the identification of molecules that target inhibition after SCI and its combination with scaffolds and/or cells are described and discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana R. Pires
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Engenharia—Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Porto, Portugal and
| | - Ana P. Pêgo
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Engenharia—Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Porto, Portugal and
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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14
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Nagoshi N, Fehlings MG. Investigational drugs for the treatment of spinal cord injury: review of preclinical studies and evaluation of clinical trials from Phase I to II. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 24:645-58. [PMID: 25645889 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1009629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Efforts in basic research have clarified mechanisms involved in spinal cord injury (SCI), and resulted in positive findings using experimental treatments including cell transplantation and drug administration preclinically. Based on accumulated results, various clinical trials have begun for human SCI. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors focus on five investigational drugs: riluzole, minocycline, Rho protein antagonist, magnesium chloride in polyethylene glycol formulation, and basic fibroblast growth factor. All drugs have established safety and tolerability from Phase I clinical trials, and are now in Phase II. They have been proven to have neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative effects in animal models of SCI. EXPERT OPINION To date, diverse drugs have been translated into clinical trials, but none have reached clinical application. A key gap was the lack of reliable biomarkers for SCI to fast-track Phase I/II trials. Furthermore, problems were often due to lack of adequate outcome assessments for both animal models and SCI patients. In order to advance clinical trials more quickly and with greater success, more clinically relevant animal models should be used in basic research. Clinically, it is indispensable to use appropriate outcome measurements and to construct a wide network among clinical centers to validate the efficacy of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narihito Nagoshi
- University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Neuroscience Center , Toronto, ON M5T 2S8 , Canada +1 416 603 5229 ; +1 416 603 6274 ;
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15
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Ramer LM, Ramer MS, Bradbury EJ. Restoring function after spinal cord injury: towards clinical translation of experimental strategies. Lancet Neurol 2014; 13:1241-56. [PMID: 25453463 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is currently incurable and treatment is limited to minimising secondary complications and maximising residual function by rehabilitation. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and the factors that prevent nerve and tissue repair has fuelled a move towards more ambitious experimental treatments aimed at promoting neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and neuroplasticity. By necessity, these new options are more invasive. However, in view of recent advances in spinal cord injury research and demand from patients, clinicians, and the scientific community to push promising experimental treatments to the clinic, momentum and optimism exist for the translation of candidate experimental treatments to clinical spinal cord injury. The ability to rescue, reactivate, and rewire spinal systems to restore function after spinal cord injury might soon be within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Ramer
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Matt S Ramer
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth J Bradbury
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
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16
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Gereau RW, Sluka KA, Maixner W, Savage SR, Price TJ, Murinson BB, Sullivan MD, Fillingim RB. A pain research agenda for the 21st century. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2014; 15:1203-14. [PMID: 25419990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Chronic pain represents an immense clinical problem. With tens of millions of people in the United States alone suffering from the burden of debilitating chronic pain, there is a moral obligation to reduce this burden by improving the understanding of pain and treatment mechanisms, developing new therapies, optimizing and testing existing therapies, and improving access to evidence-based pain care. Here, we present a goal-oriented research agenda describing the American Pain Society's vision for pain research aimed at tackling the most pressing issues in the field. PERSPECTIVE This article presents the American Pain Society's view of some of the most important research questions that need to be addressed to advance pain science and to improve care of patients with chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Gereau
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Washington University Pain Center and Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kathleen A Sluka
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Pain Research Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - William Maixner
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Center for Pain Research and Innovation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Seddon R Savage
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Department of Anesthesiology and Center on Addiction Recovery and Education, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Theodore J Price
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Beth B Murinson
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mark D Sullivan
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Roger B Fillingim
- The American Pain Society, Glenview, Illinois; Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
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17
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Rupp R, Blesch A, Schad L, Draganski B, Weidner N. [Novel aspects of diagnostics and therapy of spinal cord diseases]. DER NERVENARZT 2014; 85:946-54. [PMID: 25001239 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-014-4037-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both non-traumatic and traumatic spinal cord injuries have in common that a relatively minor structural lesion can cause profound sensorimotor and autonomous dysfunction. Besides treating the cause of the spinal cord injury the main goal is to restore lost function as far as possible. AIM This article provides an overview of current innovative diagnostic (imaging) and therapeutic approaches (neurorehabilitation and neuroregeneration) aiming for recovery of function after non-traumatic and traumatic spinal cord injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS An analysis of the current scientific literature regarding imaging, rehabilitation and rehabilitation strategies in spinal cord disease was carried out. RESULTS Novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based techniques (e.g. diffusion-weighted MRI and functional MRI) allow visualization of structural reorganization and specific neural activity in the spinal cord. Robotics-driven rehabilitative measures provide training of sensorimotor function in a targeted fashion, which can even be continued in the homecare setting. From a preclinical point of view, defined stem cell transplantation approaches allow for the first time robust structural repair of the injured spinal cord. CONCLUSION Besides well-established neurological and functional scores, MRI techniques offer the unique opportunity to provide robust and reliable "biomarkers" for restorative therapeutic interventions. Function-oriented robotics-based rehabilitative interventions alone or in combination with stem cell based therapies represent promising approaches to achieve substantial functional recovery, which go beyond current rehabilitative treatment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rupp
- Klinik für Paraplegiologie - Querschnittzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Deutschland
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