Neovascularization by Sustained Delivery of G-CSF, EPO and VEGF Using Dextran/PLGA Microspheres

VEGF loaded nanofiber membranes inhibit chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced cognitive dysfunction by promoting HIF-1a/VEGF mediated angiogenesis

We investigated the potential effects and mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-nanofiber membranes (NFMs) treatment in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH). VEGF-NFMs treatment promoted angiogenesis in surgical temporal cortex and hippocampus, alleviating decreased CBF in these two cerebral regions. VEGF-NFMs application improved reduced NAA/Cr ratio, preventing neuronal loss. VEGF-NFMs sticking decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in surgical temporal cortex, ameliorated impaired synaptic plasticity, and inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of microglia and astrocytes in surgical temporal cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, BDNF-TrkB/PI3K/AKT, BDNF-TrkB/ERK and HIF-1a/VEGF/ERK pathways were involved in the treatment of VEGF-NFMs against CCH-induced neuronal injury. These results showed the neuroprotective effects of VEGF-NFMs sticking may initiate from neurovascular repairing followed by inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and neuronal and synaptic damage, eventually leading to the suppression of cognitive dysfunction, which provided theoretical foundation for further clinical transformation of VEGF-NFMs.

The therapeutic role of Jingchuan tablet on ischaemic cerebral stroke via the HIF-1α/EPO/VEGFA signalling pathway

CONTEXT

Jingchuan tablet (JCT) is a Chinese medicine prescription for treating ischaemic cerebral stroke (ICS). However, its relevant mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To unravel the intrinsic mechanisms of JCT anti-ICS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

'Hongjingtian', 'chuanxiong', 'yanhusuo', 'bingpian', 'cerebral infarction', 'cerebral ischemia' or 'stroke' were used as keywords, and then components, targets and underlying mechanisms of JCT anti-ICS were analysed in TCMSP, TTD, DrugBank, STRING and Metascape databases up to June 2020. Male Sprague-Dawley rats under permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model, randomly assigned as: model, sham, nimodipine (0.012 g/kg/d) and JCT (0.78, 1.56 and 3.12 g/kg/d) groups, received oral gavage administration for a week. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by detecting the proportion of cerebral infarction, neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits. Bioactive components were detected by HPLC-MS. Molecular biology and computational docking were used to verify the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Eighty-one components, 166 targets and HIF-1α/EPO/VEGFA pathway contributed to the anti-ICS effect of JCT. JCT treatment effectively reduced the proportion of cerebral infarction (33.13%), apoptosis rate (14.80%) and neurobehavioural score (2.00). JCT increased the protein levels of HIF-1α (0.84), EPO (0.64) and VEGFA (0.69), respectively (p < 0.05). Gallic acid, salidroside, chlorogenic acid, ethyl gallate, ferulic acid and tetrahydropalmatine detected by HPLC-MS showed good interaction and binding with HIF-1α/EPO/VEGFA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated the mechanisms of JCT anti-ICS associated with the activation of the HIF-1α/EPO/VEGFA pathway, which provided a pharmacological basis for expanding the clinical application and some scientific ideas for further research into the material basis JCT anti-ICS.

3D-printed hydrogel scaffold-loaded granulocyte colony-stimulating factor sustained-release microspheres and their effect on endometrial regeneration

After injury, the endometrium cannot self-repair or regenerate because damages of the basal layer of the uterine, which often lead to intrauterine adhesions (IUAs), which can cause serious problems such...

Engineering strategies to achieve efficient in vitro expansion of haematopoietic stem cells: development and improvement

Haematopoietic stem cells are the basis for building and maintaining lifelong haematopoietic mechanisms and important resources for the treatment of blood disorders. Haematopoietic niches are microenvironment in the body where...

A sandwich structured drug delivery composite membrane for improved recovery after spinal cord injury under longtime controlled release

A sandwich structured composite membrane for longtime controlled release of nerve growth factor (NGF) to repair spinal cord injury (SCI) is prepared through electrospray. In this system, PLA film is used as the sealing layer to prevent drug diffusion and provide mechanical support, PLGA microspheres as the sandwich layer to load and controlled release NGF, and chitosan (CS) film as the planting layer to seed bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The composite membrane has good biocompatibility and can effectively promote PC-12 cells to differentiate into neurons. In addition, the composite membrane can be directly applied to the injured areas without further damage. The longtime sustained release of NGF guaranteed enough requirement time for SCI repair, which will decrease the administration frequency and improve patient compliance. The administration of BMSCs coupled with the sandwich composite membrane effectively relieves SCI, decreases cavity formation, enhances neuronal regeneration and tissue repair, as well as improves the recovery of locomotor functions. Overall, this present work provides a future perspective for the treatment of SCI by the NGF-loaded sandwich composite membrane with prolonged drug release function.