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Chen YL, Feng XL, Tam KW, Fan CY, Cheung MPL, Yang YT, Wong S, Shum DKY, Chan YS, Cheung CW, Cheung M, Liu JA. Intrinsic and extrinsic actions of human neural progenitors with SUFU inhibition promote tissue repair and functional recovery from severe spinal cord injury. NPJ Regen Med 2024; 9:13. [PMID: 38519518 PMCID: PMC10959923 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-024-00352-4] [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: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells(hPSCs) provide major cell sources for repairing damaged neural circuitry and enabling axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the injury niche and inadequate intrinsic factors in the adult spinal cord restrict the therapeutic potential of transplanted NPCs. The Sonic Hedgehog protein (Shh) has crucial roles in neurodevelopment by promoting the formation of motorneurons and oligodendrocytes as well as its recently described neuroprotective features in response to the injury, indicating its essential role in neural homeostasis and tissue repair. In this study, we demonstrate that elevated SHH signaling in hNPCs by inhibiting its negative regulator, SUFU, enhanced cell survival and promoted robust neuronal differentiation with extensive axonal outgrowth, counteracting the harmful effects of the injured niche. Importantly, SUFU inhibition in NPCs exert non-cell autonomous effects on promoting survival and neurogenesis of endogenous cells and modulating the microenvironment by reducing suppressive barriers around lesion sites. The combined beneficial effects of SUFU inhibition in hNPCs resulted in the effective reconstruction of neuronal connectivity with the host and corticospinal regeneration, significantly improving neurobehavioral recovery in recipient animals. These results demonstrate that SUFU inhibition confers hNPCs with potent therapeutic potential to overcome extrinsic and intrinsic barriers in transplantation treatments for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Long Chen
- Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiang-Lan Feng
- Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin-Wai Tam
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chao-Yang Fan
- Department of Neuroscience, Tat Chee Avenue, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - May Pui-Lai Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong-Ting Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Tat Chee Avenue, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stanley Wong
- Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daisy Kwok-Yan Shum
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying-Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Wai Cheung
- Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong sanatorium hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Martin Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jessica Aijia Liu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Tat Chee Avenue, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Ahmed RU, Alam M, Zheng YP. Experimental spinal cord injury and behavioral tests in laboratory rats. Heliyon 2019; 5:e01324. [PMID: 30906898 PMCID: PMC6411514 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in some serious neurophysiological consequences that alter healthy body functions and devastate the quality of living of individuals. To find a cure for SCI, researchers around the world are working on different neurorepair and neurorehabilitation modalities. To test a new treatment for SCI as well as to understand the mechanism of recovery, animal models are being widely used. Among them, SCI rat models are arguably the most prominent. Furthermore, it is important to select a suitable behavioral test to evaluate both the motor and sensory recovery following any therapeutic intervention. In this paper, we review the rat models of spinal injury and commonly used behavioral tests to serve as a useful guideline for neuroscientists in the field of SCI research.
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Pinocembrin Protects Blood-Brain Barrier Function and Expands the Therapeutic Time Window for Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Treatment in a Rat Thromboembolic Stroke Model. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:8943210. [PMID: 29850586 PMCID: PMC5937499 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8943210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) remains the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke but has a restrictive treatment time window of 4.5 hr. Prolonged ischemia causes blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and increases the incidence of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) secondary to reperfusion. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of pinocembrin (PCB; a pleiotropic neuroprotective agent) on t-PA administration-induced BBB damage in a novel rat thromboembolic stroke model. By assessing the leakage of Evans blue into the ischemic hemisphere, we demonstrated that PCB pretreatment 5 min before t-PA administration significantly reduced BBB damage following 2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr, and even 8 hr ischemia. Consistently, PCB pretreatment significantly decreased t-PA infusion-resulting brain edema and infarction volume and improved the behavioral outcomes following 6 hr ischemia. Mechanistically, PCB pretreatment inhibited the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and degradation of tight junction proteins (TJPs) occludin and claudin-5 in the ischemic hemisphere. Moreover, PCB pretreatment significantly reduced phosphorylation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) as compared with t-PA alone. In an in vitro BBB model, PCB decreased transendothelial permeability upon hypoxia/aglycemia through inhibiting PDGF-CC secretion. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PCB pretreatment shortly before t-PA infusion significantly protects BBB function and improves neurological outcomes following prolonged ischemia beyond the regular 4.5 hr t-PA time window. PCB pretreatment may represent a novel means of increasing the safety and the therapeutic time window of t-PA following ischemic stroke.
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Ma Y, Li L, Niu Z, Song J, Lin Y, Zhang H, Du G. Effect of recombinant plasminogen activator timing on thrombolysis in a novel rat embolic stroke model. Pharmacol Res 2016; 107:291-299. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Ma YZ, Li L, Song JK, Niu ZR, Liu HF, Zhou XS, Xie FS, Du GH. A novel embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion model induced by thrombus formed in common carotid artery in rat. J Neurol Sci 2015; 359:275-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.09.362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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