Evaluation of the neurorestorative effects of the murine beta-nerve growth factor infusions in old rat with cognitive deficit

Approaches of marine compounds and relevant immune mediators in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Opportunities and challenges

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social skills, language, communication, and behavioral skills, significantly impacting the individual's quality of life. Recently, numerous works have centered on the connections between the immune and central nervous systems and the influence of neuroinflammation on autism symptomatology. Marine natural products are considered as important alternative sources of different types of compounds, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, sterols, carotenoids, terpenoids and, alkaloids. These compounds present anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities, exhibiting a potential for the treatment of many diseases. Although many studies address the marine compounds in the modulation of inflammatory mediators, there is a gap regarding their use in the regulation of the immune system in ASD. Thus, this review aims to provide a better understanding regarding cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and immune responses in ASD, as well as the potential of bioactive marine compounds in the immune regulation in ASD. We expect that this review would contribute to the development of therapeutic alternatives for controlling immune mediators and inflammation in ASD.

Effect of Whole-Body Cryotherapy on Iron Status and Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity in Multiple Sclerosis Women

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of a series of 20 whole body cryotherapy (WBC) sessions on iron levels and neuroplasticity biomarkers in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy women. Consent was obtained from the Bioethics Committee at the Regional Medical Chamber in Krakow (87/KBL/OIL/2018; 8 May 2018). The study was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001142921; 2 November 2020). The study included 30 people: 15 women with multiple sclerosis (mean age 41.53 ± 6.98 years) and 15 healthy women (mean age 38.47 ± 6.0 years). Both groups attended cryotherapy sessions. Venous blood was collected for analysis before the WBC session and after 20 sessions. In women with MS and healthy women, no significant effect of WBC on changes in the level biomarkers of neuroplasticity was found. There were also no statistically significant differences between the groups of the analyzed indices at the beginning of the study.

Recombinant COL6 α2 as a Self-Organization Factor That Triggers Orderly Nerve Regeneration Without Guidance Cues

Collagen VI (COL6) in the microenvironment was recently identified as an extracellular signal that bears the function of promoting orderly axon bundle formation. However, the large molecular weight of COL6 (≈2,000 kDa) limits its production and clinical application. It remains unclear whether the smaller subunit α chains of COL6 can exert axon bundling and ordering effects independently. Herein, based on a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) ex vivo model, the contributions of three main COL6 α chains on orderly nerve bundle formation were analyzed, and COL6 α2 showed the largest contribution weight. A recombinant COL6 α2 chain was produced and demonstrated to promote the formation of orderly axon bundles through the NCAM1-mediated pathway. The addition of COL6 α2 in conventional hydrogel triggered orderly nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve defect model. Immunogenicity assessment showed weaker immunogenicity of COL6 α2 compared to that of the COL6 complex. These findings suggest that recombinant COL6 α2 is a promising material for orderly nerve regeneration.

The delicate balance between neurotoxicity and neuroprotection in the context of HIV-1 infection

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) causes a spectrum of neurological impairments, termed HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), following the infiltration of infected cells into the brain. Even though the implementation of antiretroviral therapy reduced the systemic viral load, the prevalence of HAND remains unchanged and infected patients develop persisting neurological disturbances affecting their quality of life. As a result, HAND have gained importance in basic and clinical researches, warranting the need of developing new adjunctive treatments. Nonetheless, a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms remains necessary. Several studies consolidated their efforts into elucidating the neurotoxic signaling leading to HAND including the deleterious actions of HIV-1 viral proteins and inflammatory mediators. However, the scope of these studies is not sufficient to address all the complexity related to HAND development. Fewer studies focused on an altered neuroprotective capacity of the brain to respond to HIV-1 infection. Neurotrophic factors are endogenous polyproteins involved in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. Any defects in the processing or production of these crucial factors might compose a risk factor rendering the brain more vulnerable to neuronal damages. Due to their essential roles, they have been investigated for their diverse interplays with HIV-1 infection. In this review, we present a complete description of the neurotrophic factors involved in HAND. We discuss emerging concepts for their therapeutic applications and summarize the complex mechanisms that down-regulate their production in favor of a neurotoxic environment. For certain factors, we finally address opposing roles that rather lead to increased inflammation.

Neurotrophic factors and their effects in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Neurotrophins are small molecules of polypeptides, which include nerve growth factor (NGF) family, glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands, and neuropoietic cytokines. These factors have an important role in neural regeneration, remyelination, and regulating the development of the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS, respectively) by intracellular signaling through specific receptors. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative disorders may be due to an alteration in the neurotrophic factors and their receptors. The use of neurotrophic factors as therapeutic agents is a novel strategy for restoring and maintaining neuronal function during neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to pathology of neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, autoimmune and mesenchymal stem cells, by the release of neurotrophic factors, have the ability to protect neuronal population and can efficiently suppress the formation of new lesions. So, these cells may be an alternative source for delivering neurotrophic factors into the CNS.