1
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Saraswathy VM, Zhou L, Mokalled MH. Single-cell analysis of innate spinal cord regeneration identifies intersecting modes of neuronal repair. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6808. [PMID: 39147780 PMCID: PMC11327264 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50628-y] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Adult zebrafish have an innate ability to recover from severe spinal cord injury. Here, we report a comprehensive single nuclear RNA sequencing atlas that spans 6 weeks of regeneration. We identify cooperative roles for adult neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity during spinal cord repair. Neurogenesis of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons restores the excitatory/inhibitory balance after injury. In addition, a transient population of injury-responsive neurons (iNeurons) show elevated plasticity 1 week post-injury. We found iNeurons are injury-surviving neurons that acquire a neuroblast-like gene expression signature after injury. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis showed iNeurons are required for functional recovery and employ vesicular trafficking as an essential mechanism that underlies neuronal plasticity. This study provides a comprehensive resource of the cells and mechanisms that direct spinal cord regeneration and establishes zebrafish as a model of plasticity-driven neural repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnu Muraleedharan Saraswathy
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lili Zhou
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mayssa H Mokalled
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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2
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Brockie S, Zhou C, Fehlings MG. Resident immune responses to spinal cord injury: role of astrocytes and microglia. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1678-1685. [PMID: 38103231 PMCID: PMC10960308 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.389630] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury can be traumatic or non-traumatic in origin, with the latter rising in incidence and prevalence with the aging demographics of our society. Moreover, as the global population ages, individuals with co-existent degenerative spinal pathology comprise a growing number of traumatic spinal cord injury cases, especially involving the cervical spinal cord. This makes recovery and treatment approaches particularly challenging as age and comorbidities may limit regenerative capacity. For these reasons, it is critical to better understand the complex milieu of spinal cord injury lesion pathobiology and the ensuing inflammatory response. This review discusses microglia-specific purinergic and cytokine signaling pathways, as well as microglial modulation of synaptic stability and plasticity after injury. Further, we evaluate the role of astrocytes in neurotransmission and calcium signaling, as well as their border-forming response to neural lesions. Both the inflammatory and reparative roles of these cells have eluded our complete understanding and remain key therapeutic targets due to their extensive structural and functional roles in the nervous system. Recent advances have shed light on the roles of glia in neurotransmission and reparative injury responses that will change how interventions are directed. Understanding key processes and existing knowledge gaps will allow future research to effectively target these cells and harness their regenerative potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Brockie
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cindy Zhou
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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O'Shea TM, Ao Y, Wang S, Ren Y, Cheng AL, Kawaguchi R, Shi Z, Swarup V, Sofroniew MV. Derivation and transcriptional reprogramming of border-forming wound repair astrocytes after spinal cord injury or stroke in mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1505-1521. [PMID: 38907165 PMCID: PMC11303254 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01684-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) lesions become surrounded by neuroprotective borders of newly proliferated reactive astrocytes; however, fundamental features of these cells are poorly understood. Here we show that following spinal cord injury or stroke, 90% and 10% of border-forming astrocytes derive, respectively, from proliferating local astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in adult mice of both sexes. Temporal transcriptome analysis, single-nucleus RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry show that after focal CNS injury, local mature astrocytes dedifferentiate, proliferate and become transcriptionally reprogrammed to permanently altered new states, with persisting downregulation of molecules associated with astrocyte-neuron interactions and upregulation of molecules associated with wound healing, microbial defense and interactions with stromal and immune cells. These wound repair astrocytes share morphologic and transcriptional features with perimeningeal limitans astrocytes and are the predominant source of neuroprotective borders that re-establish CNS integrity around lesions by separating neural parenchyma from stromal and immune cells as occurs throughout the healthy CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M O'Shea
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yan Ao
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shinong Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yilong Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Amy L Cheng
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Riki Kawaguchi
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zechuan Shi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Swarup
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND), University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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4
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Ševc J, Mochnacký F, Košuth J, Alexovič Matiašová A, Slovinská L, Blaško J, Bukhun I, Holota R, Tomori Z, Daxnerová Z. Comparative model of minimal spinal cord injury reveals a rather anti-inflammatory response in the lesion site as well as increased proliferation in the central canal lining in the neonates compared to the adult rats. Dev Neurobiol 2024; 84:169-190. [PMID: 38812372 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22942] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting from trauma decreases the quality of human life. Numerous clues indicate that the limited endogenous regenerative potential is a result of the interplay between the inhibitory nature of mature nervous tissue and the inflammatory actions of immune and glial cells. Knowledge gained from comparing regeneration in adult and juvenile animals could draw attention to factors that should be removed or added for effective therapy in adults. Therefore, we generated a minimal SCI (mSCI) model with a comparable impact on the spinal cord of Wistar rats during adulthood, preadolescence, and the neonatal period. The mechanism of injury is based on unilateral incision with a 20 ga needle tip according to stereotaxic coordinates into the dorsal horn of the L4 lumbar spinal segment. The incision should harm a similar amount of gray matter on a coronal section in each group of experimental animals. According to our results, the impact causes mild injury with minimal adverse effects on the neurological functions of animals but still has a remarkable effect on nervous tissue and its cellular and humoral components. Testing the mSCI model in adults, preadolescents, and neonates revealed a rather anti-inflammatory response of immune cells and astrocytes at the lesion site, as well as increased proliferation in the central canal lining in neonates compared with adult animals. Our results indicate that developing nervous tissue could possess superior reparative potential and confirm the importance of comparative studies to advance in the field of neuroregeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juraj Ševc
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Filip Mochnacký
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ján Košuth
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Anna Alexovič Matiašová
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Lucia Slovinská
- Faculty of Medicine, Associated Tissue Bank, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovak Republic
- Institute of Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Juraj Blaško
- Institute of Neurobiology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ivan Bukhun
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Radovan Holota
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Zoltán Tomori
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Zuzana Daxnerová
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic
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5
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Mu J, Hao L, Wang Z, Fu X, Li Y, Hao F, Duan H, Yang Z, Li X. Visualizing Wallerian degeneration in the corticospinal tract after sensorimotor cortex ischemia in mice. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:636-641. [PMID: 37721295 PMCID: PMC10581571 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.380903] [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] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke can cause Wallerian degeneration in regions outside of the brain, particularly in the corticospinal tract. To investigate the fate of major glial cells and axons within affected areas of the corticospinal tract following stroke, we induced photochemical infarction of the sensorimotor cortex leading to Wallerian degeneration along the full extent of the corticospinal tract. We first used a routine, sensitive marker of axonal injury, amyloid precursor protein, to examine Wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract. An antibody to amyloid precursor protein mapped exclusively to proximal axonal segments within the ischemic cortex, with no positive signal in distal parts of the corticospinal tract, at all time points. To improve visualization of Wallerian degeneration, we next utilized an orthograde virus that expresses green fluorescent protein to label the corticospinal tract and then quantitatively evaluated green fluorescent protein-expressing axons. Using this approach, we found that axonal degeneration began on day 3 post-stroke and was almost complete by 7 days after stroke. In addition, microglia mobilized and activated early, from day 7 after stroke, but did not maintain a phagocytic state over time. Meanwhile, astrocytes showed relatively delayed mobilization and a moderate response to Wallerian degeneration. Moreover, no anterograde degeneration of spinal anterior horn cells was observed in response to Wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for dynamic, pathogenic spatiotemporal changes in major cellular components of the corticospinal tract during Wallerian degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Mu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Liufang Hao
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zijue Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuyang Fu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yusen Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongmei Duan
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoyang Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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6
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Czyżewski W, Mazurek M, Sakwa L, Szymoniuk M, Pham J, Pasierb B, Litak J, Czyżewska E, Turek M, Piotrowski B, Torres K, Rola R. Astroglial Cells: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury. Cells 2024; 13:148. [PMID: 38247839 PMCID: PMC10813911 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020148] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a significant health concern, necessitating advanced therapeutic interventions. This detailed review explores the critical roles of astrocytes, key cellular constituents of the central nervous system (CNS), in both the pathophysiology and possible rehabilitation of TBI. Following injury, astrocytes exhibit reactive transformations, differentiating into pro-inflammatory (A1) and neuroprotective (A2) phenotypes. This paper elucidates the interactions of astrocytes with neurons, their role in neuroinflammation, and the potential for their therapeutic exploitation. Emphasized strategies encompass the utilization of endocannabinoid and calcium signaling pathways, hormone-based treatments like 17β-estradiol, biological therapies employing anti-HBGB1 monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy targeting Connexin 43, and the innovative technique of astrocyte transplantation as a means to repair damaged neural tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Czyżewski
- Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland;
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (R.R.)
| | - Marek Mazurek
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (R.R.)
| | - Leon Sakwa
- Student Scientific Society, Kazimierz Pulaski University of Radom, 26-600 Radom, Poland;
| | - Michał Szymoniuk
- Student Scientific Association, Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jennifer Pham
- Student Scientific Society, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (J.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Barbara Pasierb
- Department of Dermatology, Radom Specialist Hospital, 26-600 Radom, Poland;
| | - Jakub Litak
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Ewa Czyżewska
- Department of Otolaryngology, Mazovian Specialist Hospital, 26-617 Radom, Poland;
| | - Michał Turek
- Student Scientific Society, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (J.P.); (M.T.)
| | - Bartłomiej Piotrowski
- Institute of Automatic Control and Robotics, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Kamil Torres
- Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Radosław Rola
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (R.R.)
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7
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Liu D, Shen H, Zhang K, Shen Y, Wen R, He X, Long G, Li X. Functional Hydrogel Co-Remolding Migration and Differentiation Microenvironment for Severe Spinal Cord Injury Repair. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301662. [PMID: 37937326 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301662] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) activates nestin+ neural stem cells (NSCs), which can be regarded as potential seed cells for neuronal regeneration. However, the lesion microenvironment seriously hinders the migration of the nestin+ cells to the lesion epicenter and their differentiation into neurons to rebuild neural circuits. In this study, a photosensitive hydrogel scaffold is prepared as drug delivery carrier. Genetically engineered SDF1α and NT3 are designed and the scaffold is binary modified to reshape the lesion microenvironment. The binary modified scaffold can effectively induce the migration and neuronal differentiation of nestin+ NSCs in vitro. When implanted into a rat complete SCI model, many of the SCI-activated nestin+ cells migrate into the lesion site and give rise to neurons in short-term. Meanwhile, long-term repair results also show that implantation of the binary modified scaffold can effectively promote the maturation, functionalization and synaptic network reconstruction of neurons in the lesion site. In addition, animals treated with binary scaffold also showed better improvement in motor functions. The therapeutic strategy based on remolding the migration and neuronal differentiation lesion microenvironment provides a new insight into SCI repair by targeting activated nestin+ cells, which exhibits excellent clinical transformation prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingyang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - He Shen
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - Yeyu Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - Runlin Wen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - Xinghui He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
| | - Ge Long
- Department of Anesthesia, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410078, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410008, China
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8
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Yin P, Liang W, Han B, Yang Y, Sun D, Qu X, Hai Y, Luo D. Hydrogel and Nanomedicine-Based Multimodal Therapeutic Strategies for Spinal Cord Injury. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301173. [PMID: 37884459 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurodegenerative disease caused by mechanical and biological factors, manifesting as a loss of motor and sensory functions. Inhibition of injury expansion and even reversal of injury in the acute damage stage of SCI are important strategies for treating this disease. Hydrogels and nanoparticle (NP)-based drugs are the most effective, widely studied, and clinically valuable therapeutic strategies in the field of repair and regeneration. Hydrogels are 3D flow structures that fill the pathological gaps in SCI and provide a microenvironment similar to that of the spinal cord extracellular matrix for nerve cell regeneration. NP-based drugs can easily penetrate the blood-spinal cord barrier, target SCI lesions, and are noninvasive. Hydrogels and NPs as drug carriers can be loaded with various drugs and biological therapeutic factors for slow release in SCI lesions. They help drugs function more efficiently by exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nerve regeneration effects to promote the recovery of neurological function. In this review, the use of hydrogels and NPs as drug carriers and the role of both in the repair of SCI are discussed to provide a multimodal strategic reference for nerve repair and regeneration after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Weishi Liang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yihan Yang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Duan Sun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xianjun Qu
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yong Hai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
- Joint Laboratory for Research & Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Deformity, Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Clinical Center for Spinal Deformity, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101400, China
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9
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Falco MV, Fabbiani G, Maciel C, Valdivia S, Vitureira N, Russo RE. P2X7 receptor activation awakes a dormant stem cell niche in the adult spinal cord. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1288676. [PMID: 38164435 PMCID: PMC10757934 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1288676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The ependyma of the spinal cord is a latent stem cell niche that is reactivated by injury, generating new cells that migrate to the lesion site to limit the damage. The mechanisms by which ependymal cells are reactivated after injury remain poorly understood. ATP has been proposed to act as a diffusible "danger signal" to alert about damage and start repair. Indeed, spinal cord injury (SCI) generates an increase in extracellular ATP around the lesion epicenter that lasts for several hours and affects the functional outcome after the damage. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) has functional properties (e.g., low sensitivity for ATP, high permeability for Ca2+) that makes it a suitable candidate to act as a detector of tissue damage. Because ependymal cells express functional P2X7r that generate an inward current and regenerative Ca2+ waves, we hypothesize that the P2X7r has a main role in the mechanisms by which progenitor-like cells in the ependyma react to tissue damage. To test this possibility, we simulated the P2X7r activation that occurs after SCI by in vivo intraspinal injection of the selective agonist BzATP nearby the central canal. We found that BzATP rescued ependymal cells from quiescence by triggering a proliferative response similar to that generated by injury. In addition, P2X7r activation by BzATP induced a shift of ependymal cells to a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) phenotype similar to that induced by injury. However, P2X7r activation did not trigger the migration of ependyma-derived cells as occurs after tissue damage. Injection of BzATP induced the expression of connexin 26 (Cx26) in ependymal cells, an event needed for the proliferative reaction after injury. BzATP did not induce these changes in ependymal cells of P2X7-/- mice supporting a specific action on P2X7r. In vivo blockade of P2X7r with the potent antagonist AZ10606120 reduced significantly the injury-induced proliferation of ependymal cells. Our data indicate that P2X7r has a key role in the "awakening" of the ependymal stem cell niche after injury and suggest purinergic signaling is an interesting target to improve the contribution of endogenous progenitors to repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Falco
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriela Fabbiani
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Maciel
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Spring Valdivia
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Nathalia Vitureira
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Raúl E. Russo
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
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10
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Guo X, Jiang C, Chen Z, Wang X, Hong F, Hao D. Regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in spinal cord injury: an updated review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1276445. [PMID: 38022526 PMCID: PMC10663250 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1276445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are involved in neural homeostasis and pathological processes associated with neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI). The biological effect of cytokines, including those associated with acute or chronic SCI pathologies, are the result of receptor-mediated signaling through the Janus kinases (JAKs) as well as the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) DNA-binding protein families. Although therapies targeting at cytokines have led to significant changes in the treatment of SCI, they present difficulties in various aspects for the direct use by patients themselves. Several small-molecule inhibitors of JAKs, which may affect multiple pro-inflammatory cytokine-dependent pathways, as well as STATs, are in clinical development for the treatment of SCI. This review describes the current understanding of the JAK-STAT signaling in neuroendocrine homeostasis and diseases, together with the rationale for targeting at this pathway for the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Guo
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Chao Jiang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Fan Hong
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dingjun Hao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
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11
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Ding L, Chu W, Xia Y, Shi M, Li T, Zhou FQ, Deng DYB. UCHL1 facilitates protein aggregates clearance to enhance neural stem cell activation in spinal cord injury. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:479. [PMID: 37507386 PMCID: PMC10382505 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Activation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) is greatly significant for the adult neurogenesis; however, it is extremely limited in the spinal cord after injury. Recent evidence suggests that accumulation of protein aggregates impairs the ability of quiescent NSCs to activate. Ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase l-1 (UCHL1), an important deubiquitinating enzyme, plays critical roles in protein aggregations clearance, but its effects on NSC activation remains unknown. Here, we show that UCHL1 promotes NSC activation by clearing protein aggregates through ubiquitin-proteasome approach. Upregulation of UCHL1 facilitated the proliferation of spinal cord NSCs after spinal cord injury (SCI). Based on protein microarray analysis of SCI cerebrospinal fluid, it is further revealed that C3+ neurotoxic reactive astrocytes negatively regulated UCHL1 and proteasome activity via C3/C3aR signaling, led to increased abundances of protein aggregations and decreased NSC proliferation. Furthermore, blockade of reactive astrocytes or C3/C3aR pathway enhanced NSC activation post-SCI by reserving UCHL1 and proteasome functions. Together, this study elucidated a mechanism regulating NSC activation in the adult spinal cord involving the UCHL1-proteasome approach, which may provide potential molecular targets and new insights for NSC fate regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ding
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Weiwei Chu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Yu Xia
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Tian Li
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, USA.
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - David Y B Deng
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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12
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Li J, Luo W, Xiao C, Zhao J, Xiang C, Liu W, Gu R. Recent advances in endogenous neural stem/progenitor cell manipulation for spinal cord injury repair. Theranostics 2023; 13:3966-3987. [PMID: 37554275 PMCID: PMC10405838 DOI: 10.7150/thno.84133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe neurological impairments. Clinically available treatments are quite limited, with unsatisfactory remediation effects. Residing endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (eNSPCs) tend to differentiate towards astrocytes, leaving only a small fraction towards oligodendrocytes and even fewer towards neurons; this has been suggested as one of the reasons for the failure of autonomous neuronal regeneration. Thus, finding ways to recruit and facilitate the differentiation of eNSPCs towards neurons has been considered a promising strategy for the noninvasive and immune-compatible treatment of SCI. The present manuscript first introduces the responses of eNSPCs after exogenous interventions to boost endogenous neurogenesis in various SCI models. Then, we focus on state-of-art manipulation approaches that enhance the intrinsic neurogenesis capacity and reconstruct the hostile microenvironment, mainly consisting of pharmacological treatments, stem cell-derived exosome administration, gene therapy, functional scaffold implantation, inflammation regulation, and inhibitory element delineation. Facing the extremely complex situation of SCI, combined treatments are also highlighted to provide more clues for future relevant investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunsheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhui Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyu Xiang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanguo Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Gu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, People's Republic of China
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13
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Rodriguez-Jimenez FJ, Jendelova P, Erceg S. The activation of dormant ependymal cells following spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:175. [PMID: 37408068 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03395-4] [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: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ependymal cells, a dormant population of ciliated progenitors found within the central canal of the spinal cord, undergo significant alterations after spinal cord injury (SCI). Understanding the molecular events that induce ependymal cell activation after SCI represents the first step toward controlling the response of the endogenous regenerative machinery in damaged tissues. This response involves the activation of specific signaling pathways in the spinal cord that promotes self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. We review our current understanding of the signaling pathways and molecular events that mediate the SCI-induced activation of ependymal cells by focusing on the roles of some cell adhesion molecules, cellular membrane receptors, ion channels (and their crosstalk), and transcription factors. An orchestrated response regulating the expression of receptors and ion channels fine-tunes and coordinates the activation of ependymal cells after SCI or cell transplantation. Understanding the major players in the activation of ependymal cells may help us to understand whether these cells represent a critical source of cells contributing to cellular replacement and tissue regeneration after SCI. A more complete understanding of the role and function of individual signaling pathways in endogenous spinal cord progenitors may foster the development of novel targeted therapies to induce the regeneration of the injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Rodriguez-Jimenez
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Slaven Erceg
- Stem Cell Therapies in Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
- National Stem Cell Bank - Valencia Node, Research Center "Principe Felipe", C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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14
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Hu X, Xu W, Ren Y, Wang Z, He X, Huang R, Ma B, Zhao J, Zhu R, Cheng L. Spinal cord injury: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:245. [PMID: 37357239 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a severe condition with an extremely high disability rate. The challenges of SCI repair include its complex pathological mechanisms and the difficulties of neural regeneration in the central nervous system. In the past few decades, researchers have attempted to completely elucidate the pathological mechanism of SCI and identify effective strategies to promote axon regeneration and neural circuit remodeling, but the results have not been ideal. Recently, new pathological mechanisms of SCI, especially the interactions between immune and neural cell responses, have been revealed by single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptome analysis. With the development of bioactive materials and stem cells, more attention has been focused on forming intermediate neural networks to promote neural regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction than on promoting axonal regeneration in the corticospinal tract. Furthermore, technologies to control physical parameters such as electricity, magnetism and ultrasound have been constantly innovated and applied in neural cell fate regulation. Among these advanced novel strategies and technologies, stem cell therapy, biomaterial transplantation, and electromagnetic stimulation have entered into the stage of clinical trials, and some of them have already been applied in clinical treatment. In this review, we outline the overall epidemiology and pathophysiology of SCI, expound on the latest research progress related to neural regeneration and circuit reconstruction in detail, and propose future directions for SCI repair and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilong Ren
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaojie Wang
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolie He
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Runzhi Huang
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei Ma
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwei Zhao
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongrong Zhu
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China.
| | - Liming Cheng
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, 200065, Shanghai, China.
- Clinical Center For Brain And Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, 200065, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Ripoll C, Poulen G, Chevreau R, Lonjon N, Vachiery-Lahaye F, Bauchet L, Hugnot JP. Persistence of FoxJ1 + Pax6 + Sox2 + ependymal cells throughout life in the human spinal cord. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:181. [PMID: 37329342 PMCID: PMC11072198 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04811-x] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Ependymal cells lining the central canal of the spinal cord play a crucial role in providing a physical barrier and in the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. These cells express the FOXJ1 and SOX2 transcription factors in mice and are derived from various neural tube populations, including embryonic roof and floor plate cells. They exhibit a dorsal-ventral expression pattern of spinal cord developmental transcription factors (such as MSX1, PAX6, ARX, and FOXA2), resembling an embryonic-like organization. Although this ependymal region is present in young humans, it appears to be lost with age. To re-examine this issue, we collected 17 fresh spinal cords from organ donors aged 37-83 years and performed immunohistochemistry on lightly fixed tissues. We observed cells expressing FOXJ1 in the central region in all cases, which co-expressed SOX2 and PAX6 as well as RFX2 and ARL13B, two proteins involved in ciliogenesis and cilia-mediated sonic hedgehog signaling, respectively. Half of the cases exhibited a lumen and some presented portions of the spinal cord with closed and open central canals. Co-staining of FOXJ1 with other neurodevelopmental transcription factors (ARX, FOXA2, MSX1) and NESTIN revealed heterogeneity of the ependymal cells. Interestingly, three donors aged > 75 years exhibited a fetal-like regionalization of neurodevelopmental transcription factors, with dorsal and ventral ependymal cells expressing MSX1, ARX, and FOXA2. These results provide new evidence for the persistence of ependymal cells expressing neurodevelopmental genes throughout human life and highlight the importance of further investigation of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Ripoll
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
| | - Gaetan Poulen
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Robert Chevreau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Lonjon
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence Vachiery-Lahaye
- Department of Donation and Transplantation, Coordination Unit, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Luc Bauchet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France
- Neurosurgery Department, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Hugnot
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34091, Montpellier, France.
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16
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Ma XY, Yang TT, Liu L, Peng XC, Qian F, Tang FR. Ependyma in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Radiation-Induced Brain Injury and as a Therapeutic Target for Neurotrophic Factors. Biomolecules 2023; 13:754. [PMID: 37238624 PMCID: PMC10216700 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050754] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuron loss caused by the progressive damage to the nervous system is proposed to be the main pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma is a layer of ciliated ependymal cells that participates in the formation of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB). It functions to promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the material exchange between CSF and brain interstitial fluid. Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) shows obvious impairments of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the neuroinflammatory processes after acute brain injury, a large amount of complement proteins and infiltrated immune cells are circulated in the CSF to resist brain damage and promote substance exchange through the BCB. However, as the protective barrier lining the brain ventricles, the ependyma is extremely vulnerable to cytotoxic and cytolytic immune responses. When the ependyma is damaged, the integrity of BCB is destroyed, and the CSF flow and material exchange is affected, leading to brain microenvironment imbalance, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other neurotrophic factors promote the differentiation and maturation of ependymal cells to maintain the integrity of the ependyma and the activity of ependymal cilia, and may have therapeutic potential in restoring the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment after RIBI or during the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng Qian
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng-Ru Tang
- Radiation Physiology Laboratory, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138602, Singapore
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17
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Zhao Q, Zhu Y, Ren Y, Yin S, Yu L, Huang R, Song S, Hu X, Zhu R, Cheng L, Xie N. Neurogenesis potential of oligodendrocyte precursor cells from oligospheres and injured spinal cord. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1049562. [PMID: 36619671 PMCID: PMC9813964 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1049562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to long-lasting oligodendrocyte death and extensive demyelination in the lesion area. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are the reservoir of new mature oligodendrocytes during damaged myelin regeneration, which also have latent potential for neurogenic regeneration and oligospheres formation. Whether oligospheres derived OPCs can differentiate into neurons and the neurogenesis potential of OPCs after SCI remains unclear. In this study, primary OPCs cultures were used to generate oligospheres and detect the differentiation and neurogenesis potential of oligospheres. In vivo, SCI models of juvenile and adult mice were constructed. Combining the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), bioinformatics analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and molecular experiment, we investigated the neurogenesis potential and mechanisms of OPCs in vitro and vivo. We found that OPCs differentiation and oligodendrocyte morphology were significantly different between brain and spinal cord. Intriguingly, we identify a previously undescribed findings that OPCs were involved in oligospheres formation which could further differentiate into neuron-like cells. We also firstly detected the intermediate states of oligodendrocytes and neurons during oligospheres differentiation. Furthermore, we found that OPCs were significantly activated after SCI. Combining scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data from injured spinal cord, we confirmed the neurogenesis potential of OPCs and the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress after SCI. Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress could effectively attenuate OPCs death. Additionally, we also found that endoplasmic reticulum may regulate the stemness and differentiation of oligospheres. These findings revealed the neurogenesis potential of OPCs from oligospheres and injured spinal cord, which may provide a new source and a potential target for spinal cord repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanjing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Yin
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liqun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Simin Song
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongrong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Rongrong Zhu,
| | - Liming Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Liming Cheng,
| | - Ning Xie
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China,Ning Xie,
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18
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Saraswathy VM, Zhou L, McAdow AR, Burris B, Dogra D, Reischauer S, Mokalled MH. Myostatin is a negative regulator of adult neurogenesis after spinal cord injury in zebrafish. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111705. [PMID: 36417881 PMCID: PMC9742758 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic and extrinsic inhibition of neuronal regeneration obstruct spinal cord (SC) repair in mammals. In contrast, adult zebrafish achieve functional recovery after complete SC transection. While studies of innate SC regeneration have focused on axon regrowth as a primary repair mechanism, how local adult neurogenesis affects functional recovery is unknown. Here, we uncover dynamic expression of zebrafish myostatin b (mstnb) in a niche of dorsal SC progenitors after injury. mstnb mutants show impaired functional recovery, normal glial and axonal bridging across the lesion, and an increase in the profiles of newborn neurons. Molecularly, neuron differentiation genes are upregulated, while the neural stem cell maintenance gene fgf1b is downregulated in mstnb mutants. Finally, we show that human fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) treatment rescues the molecular and cellular phenotypes of mstnb mutants. These studies uncover unanticipated neurogenic functions for mstnb and establish the importance of local adult neurogenesis for innate SC repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnu Muraleedharan Saraswathy
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lili Zhou
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anthony R McAdow
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brooke Burris
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Deepika Dogra
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany; Medical Clinic I, (Cardiology/Angiology) and Campus Kerckhoff, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; The Cardio-Pulmonary Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mayssa H Mokalled
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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19
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Hemati-Gourabi M, Cao T, Romprey MK, Chen M. Capacity of astrocytes to promote axon growth in the injured mammalian central nervous system. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:955598. [PMID: 36203815 PMCID: PMC9530187 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.955598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the regulation of axon growth after injury to the adult central nervous system (CNS) is crucial to improve neural repair. Following acute focal CNS injury, astrocytes are one cellular component of the scar tissue at the primary lesion that is traditionally associated with inhibition of axon regeneration. Advances in genetic models and experimental approaches have broadened knowledge of the capacity of astrocytes to facilitate injury-induced axon growth. This review summarizes findings that support a positive role of astrocytes in axon regeneration and axon sprouting in the mature mammalian CNS, along with potential underlying mechanisms. It is important to recognize that astrocytic functions, including modulation of axon growth, are context-dependent. Evidence suggests that the local injury environment, neuron-intrinsic regenerative potential, and astrocytes’ reactive states determine the astrocytic capacity to support axon growth. An integrated understanding of these factors will optimize therapeutic potential of astrocyte-targeted strategies for neural repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tuoxin Cao
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Megan K. Romprey
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Meifan Chen
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Meifan Chen,
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20
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Gorina YV, Salmina AB, Erofeev AI, Gerasimov EI, Bolshakova AV, Balaban PM, Bezprozvanny IB, Vlasova OL. Astrocyte Activation Markers. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:851-870. [PMID: 36180985 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the most common type of glial cells that provide homeostasis and protection of the central nervous system. Important specific characteristic of astrocytes is manifestation of morphological heterogeneity, which is directly dependent on localization in a particular area of the brain. Astrocytes can integrate into neural networks and keep neurons active in various areas of the brain. Moreover, astrocytes express a variety of receptors, channels, and membrane transporters, which underlie their peculiar metabolic activity, and, hence, determine plasticity of the central nervous system during development and aging. Such complex structural and functional organization of astrocytes requires the use of modern methods for their identification and analysis. Considering the important fact that determining the most appropriate marker for polymorphic and multiple subgroups of astrocytes is of decisive importance for studying their multifunctionality, this review presents markers, modern imaging techniques, and identification of astrocytes, which comprise a valuable resource for studying structural and functional properties of astrocytes, as well as facilitate better understanding of the extent to which astrocytes contribute to neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana V Gorina
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia.
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, 660022, Russia
| | - Alla B Salmina
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, 660022, Russia
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Tissue Engineering, Brain Institute, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, 105064, Russia
| | - Alexander I Erofeev
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
| | - Evgeniy I Gerasimov
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
| | - Anastasia V Bolshakova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
| | - Pavel M Balaban
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology of Learning, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity, Moscow, 117485, Russia
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Olga L Vlasova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 194091, Russia
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21
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Ribeiro M, Ayupe AC, Beckedorff FC, Levay K, Rodriguez S, Tsoulfas P, Lee JK, Nascimento-Dos-Santos G, Park KK. Retinal ganglion cell expression of cytokine enhances occupancy of NG2 cell-derived astrocytes at the nerve injury site: Implication for axon regeneration. Exp Neurol 2022; 355:114147. [PMID: 35738417 PMCID: PMC10648309 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Following injury in the central nervous system, a population of astrocytes occupy the lesion site, form glial bridges and facilitate axon regeneration. These astrocytes originate primarily from resident astrocytes or NG2+ oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. However, the extent to which these cell types give rise to the lesion-filling astrocytes, and whether the astrocytes derived from different cell types contribute similarly to optic nerve regeneration remain unclear. Here we examine the distribution of astrocytes and NG2+ cells in an optic nerve crush model. We show that optic nerve astrocytes partially fill the injury site over time after a crush injury. Viral mediated expression of a growth-promoting factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) promotes axon regeneration without altering the lesion size or the degree of lesion-filling GFAP+ cells. Strikingly, using inducible NG2CreER driver mice, we found that CNTF overexpression in RGCs increases the occupancy of NG2+ cell-derived astrocytes in the optic nerve lesion. An EdU pulse-chase experiment shows that the increase in NG2 cell-derived astrocytes is not due to an increase in cell proliferation. Lastly, we performed RNA-sequencing on the injured optic nerve and reveal that CNTF overexpression in RGCs results in significant changes in the expression of distinct genes, including those that encode chemokines, growth factor receptors, and immune cell modulators. Even though CNTF-induced axon regeneration has long been recognized, this is the first evidence of this procedure affecting glial cell fate at the optic nerve crush site. We discuss possible implication of these results for axon regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio Ribeiro
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA7103 MCN/VUIIS, 1161 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ana C Ayupe
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Felipe C Beckedorff
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Building, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Room 715, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Konstantin Levay
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Sara Rodriguez
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jae K Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Gabriel Nascimento-Dos-Santos
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Kevin K Park
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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22
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Corrigendum: Purinergic signaling systems across comparative models of spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:689-696. [PMID: 36018196 PMCID: PMC9727416 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.350234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.338993].
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23
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Gong L, Gu Y, Han X, Luan C, Liu C, Wang X, Sun Y, Zheng M, Fang M, Yang S, Xu L, Sun H, Yu B, Gu X, Zhou S. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Molecular Expression Pattern and Intercellular Interactions in the Glial Scar Response to Spinal Cord Injury. Neurosci Bull 2022; 39:213-244. [PMID: 35788904 PMCID: PMC9905408 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00897-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve regeneration in adult mammalian spinal cord is poor because of the lack of intrinsic regeneration of neurons and extrinsic factors - the glial scar is triggered by injury and inhibits or promotes regeneration. Recent technological advances in spatial transcriptomics (ST) provide a unique opportunity to decipher most genes systematically throughout scar formation, which remains poorly understood. Here, we first constructed the tissue-wide gene expression patterns of mouse spinal cords over the course of scar formation using ST after spinal cord injury from 32 samples. Locally, we profiled gene expression gradients from the leading edge to the core of the scar areas to further understand the scar microenvironment, such as neurotransmitter disorders, activation of the pro-inflammatory response, neurotoxic saturated lipids, angiogenesis, obstructed axon extension, and extracellular structure re-organization. In addition, we described 21 cell transcriptional states during scar formation and delineated the origins, functional diversity, and possible trajectories of subpopulations of fibroblasts, glia, and immune cells. Specifically, we found some regulators in special cell types, such as Thbs1 and Col1a2 in macrophages, CD36 and Postn in fibroblasts, Plxnb2 and Nxpe3 in microglia, Clu in astrocytes, and CD74 in oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, salvianolic acid B, a blood-brain barrier permeation and CD36 inhibitor, was administered after surgery and found to remedy fibrosis. Subsequently, we described the extent of the scar boundary and profiled the bidirectional ligand-receptor interactions at the neighboring cluster boundary, contributing to maintain scar architecture during gliosis and fibrosis, and found that GPR37L1_PSAP, and GPR37_PSAP were the most significant gene-pairs among microglia, fibroblasts, and astrocytes. Last, we quantified the fraction of scar-resident cells and proposed four possible phases of scar formation: macrophage infiltration, proliferation and differentiation of scar-resident cells, scar emergence, and scar stationary. Together, these profiles delineated the spatial heterogeneity of the scar, confirmed the previous concepts about scar architecture, provided some new clues for scar formation, and served as a valuable resource for the treatment of central nervous system injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Gong
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yun Gu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chengcheng Luan
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinghui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yufeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Mengru Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Mengya Fang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Shuhai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Lai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Hualin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Songlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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24
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He X, Li Y, Deng B, Lin A, Zhang G, Ma M, Wang Y, Yang Y, Kang X. The PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in inflammation, cell death and glial scar formation after traumatic spinal cord injury: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13275. [PMID: 35754255 PMCID: PMC9436900 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objects Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) causes neurological dysfunction below the injured segment of the spinal cord, which significantly impacts the quality of life in affected patients. The phosphoinositide 3kinase/serine‐threonine kinase (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway offers a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of secondary TSCI. This review summarizes updates concerning the role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in TSCI. Materials and Methods By searching articles related to the TSCI field and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, we summarized the mechanisms of secondary TSCI and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway; we also discuss current and potential future treatment methods for TSCI based on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Results Early apoptosis and autophagy after TSCI protect the body against injury; a prolonged inflammatory response leads to the accumulation of pro‐inflammatory factors and excessive apoptosis, as well as excessive autophagy in the surrounding normal nerve cells, thus aggravating TSCI in the subacute stage of secondary injury. Initial glial scar formation in the subacute phase is a protective mechanism for TSCI, which limits the spread of damage and inflammation. However, mature scar tissue in the chronic phase hinders axon regeneration and prevents the recovery of nerve function. Activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway can inhibit the inflammatory response and apoptosis in the subacute phase after secondary TSCI; inhibiting this pathway in the chronic phase can reduce the formation of glial scar. Conclusion The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway has an important role in the recovery of spinal cord function after secondary injury. Inducing the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the subacute phase of secondary injury and inhibiting this pathway in the chronic phase may be one of the potential strategies for the treatment of TSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuegang He
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Li
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
| | - Bo Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Aixin Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangzhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
| | - Miao Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yonggang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuewen Kang
- Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,The International Cooperation Base of Gansu Province for the Pain Research in Spinal Disorders, Lanzhou, China
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25
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Kuramoto Y, Takagi T, Takeda Y, Rajbhandari S, Yoshida Y, Nakagomi T, Yoshimura S. Identification of novel multipotent stem cells in mouse spinal cord following traumatic injury. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:555-568. [PMID: 35708107 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We showed that injury-induced multipotent stem cells (iSCs) emerge in the brain after stroke. These brain-derived iSCs (B-iSCs) can differentiate into various lineages, including neurons. This study aimed to determine whether similar stem cells can be induced even after non-ischemic injuries, such as trauma to the spinal cord. We characterized these cells, mainly focusing on their stemness, multipotency, and neuronal differentiation activities. Spinal cord injury was produced using forceps in adult mice. On day 3 after spinal cord injury, samples were obtained from the injured areas. Spinal cord sections were subjected to histological analyses. Cells were isolated and assessed for proliferative activities, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, FACS, and microarray analysis. Although nerve cell morphology was disrupted within the injured spinal cord, our histological observations revealed the presence of cells expressing stem cells, such as nestin and Sox2 in these areas. In addition, cells extracted from injured areas exhibited high proliferative abilities. These cells also expressed markers of both neural stem cells (e.g., nestin, Sox2) and multipotent stem cells (e.g., Sox2, c-myc, Klf4). They differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes, as well as neuronal cells. Microarray analysis further identified similar properties between spinal cord (SC)-derived iSCs and B-iSCs. However, SC-iSCs revealed specific genes related to the regulation of stemness and neurogenesis. We identified similar features related to multipotency in SC-iSCs compared to B-iSCs, including neuronal differentiation potential. Although the differences between SC-iSCs and B-iSCs remain largely undetermined, the present study shows that iSCs can develop even after non-ischemic injuries such as trauma. This phenomenon can occur outside the brain within the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoji Kuramoto
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Neurosurgery, 1-1, Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Japan, 663-8501;
| | - Toshinori Takagi
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Neurosurgery, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan;
| | - Yuki Takeda
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Neurosurgery, Nishinomiya, Japan;
| | | | - Yasunori Yoshida
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Neurosurgery, Nishinomiya, Japan;
| | - Takayuki Nakagomi
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.,Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Therapeutic Progress in Brain Diseases, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan;
| | - Shinichi Yoshimura
- Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Neurosurgery, Nishinomiya, Japan.,Hyogo College of Medicine, 12818, Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan;
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26
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Effects of electroacupuncture combined with hydrogel on the formation and changes in the glial scar in rats with spinal cord injury. JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcms.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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27
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Havelikova K, Smejkalova B, Jendelova P. Neurogenesis as a Tool for Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073728. [PMID: 35409088 PMCID: PMC8998995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a devastating medical condition with no effective treatment. One approach to SCI treatment may be provided by stem cells (SCs). Studies have mainly focused on the transplantation of exogenous SCs, but the induction of endogenous SCs has also been considered as an alternative. While the differentiation potential of neural stem cells in the brain neurogenic regions has been known for decades, there are ongoing debates regarding the multipotent differentiation potential of the ependymal cells of the central canal in the spinal cord (SCECs). Following spinal cord insult, SCECs start to proliferate and differentiate mostly into astrocytes and partly into oligodendrocytes, but not into neurons. However, there are several approaches concerning how to increase neurogenesis in the injured spinal cord, which are discussed in this review. The potential treatment approaches include drug administration, the reduction of neuroinflammation, neuromodulation with physical factors and in vivo reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Havelikova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Smejkalova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-24-106-2828
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28
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Temporal and spatial cellular and molecular pathological alterations with single-cell resolution in the adult spinal cord after injury. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:65. [PMID: 35232960 PMCID: PMC8888618 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00885-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves diverse injury responses in different cell types in a temporally and spatially specific manner. Here, using single-cell transcriptomic analyses combined with classic anatomical, behavioral, electrophysiological analyses, we report, with single-cell resolution, temporal molecular and cellular changes in crush-injured adult mouse spinal cord. Data revealed pathological changes of 12 different major cell types, three of which infiltrated into the spinal cord at distinct times post-injury. We discovered novel microglia and astrocyte subtypes in the uninjured spinal cord, and their dynamic conversions into additional stage-specific subtypes/states. Most dynamic changes occur at 3-days post-injury and by day-14 the second wave of microglial activation emerged, accompanied with changes in various cell types including neurons, indicative of the second round of attacks. By day-38, major cell types are still substantially deviated from uninjured states, demonstrating prolonged alterations. This study provides a comprehensive mapping of cellular/molecular pathological changes along the temporal axis after SCI, which may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies, including those targeting microglia.
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29
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Regulating Endogenous Neural Stem Cell Activation to Promote Spinal Cord Injury Repair. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050846. [PMID: 35269466 PMCID: PMC8909806 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of individuals worldwide. Currently, there is no cure, and treatment options to promote neural recovery are limited. An innovative approach to improve outcomes following SCI involves the recruitment of endogenous populations of neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs can be isolated from the neuroaxis of the central nervous system (CNS), with brain and spinal cord populations sharing common characteristics (as well as regionally distinct phenotypes). Within the spinal cord, a number of NSC sub-populations have been identified which display unique protein expression profiles and proliferation kinetics. Collectively, the potential for NSCs to impact regenerative medicine strategies hinges on their cardinal properties, including self-renewal and multipotency (the ability to generate de novo neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes). Accordingly, endogenous NSCs could be harnessed to replace lost cells and promote structural repair following SCI. While studies exploring the efficacy of this approach continue to suggest its potential, many questions remain including those related to heterogeneity within the NSC pool, the interaction of NSCs with their environment, and the identification of factors that can enhance their response. We discuss the current state of knowledge regarding populations of endogenous spinal cord NSCs, their niche, and the factors that regulate their behavior. In an attempt to move towards the goal of enhancing neural repair, we highlight approaches that promote NSC activation following injury including the modulation of the microenvironment and parenchymal cells, pharmaceuticals, and applied electrical stimulation.
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Strategies for effective neural circuit reconstruction after spinal cord injury: use of stem cells and biomaterials. World Neurosurg 2022; 161:82-89. [PMID: 35144032 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI), a serious disease of the central nervous system, often with irreversible loss of motor or sensory functions. Failure of axon connection and inhibition of microenvironment after SCI severely hinder the regeneration of damaged tissue and neuron function. Therefore, the new perspective of treatment of spinal cord injury is the reconstruction of neural circuit. Stem cells are a kind of cells with differentiation potential. They reconstruct local circulation by differentiating into neurons to replace damaged cells. It can also secrete various factors to regulate the host microenvironment and play a therapeutic role. Biomaterials can fill the cavity at the site of spinal cord injury, load therapeutic drugs, provide adsorption sites for transplanted cells and play a bridging role. In this review, the therapeutic role of stem cells and biomaterials is discussed, together with their properties, advantages, limitations, and future perspectives, providing a reference for basic and clinical research on SCI treatment.
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Deng S, Gan L, Liu C, Xu T, Zhou S, Guo Y, Zhang Z, Yang GY, Tian H, Tang Y. Roles of Ependymal Cells in the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System. Aging Dis 2022; 14:468-483. [PMID: 37008045 PMCID: PMC10017161 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.0826-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ependymal cells are indispensable components of the central nervous system (CNS). They originate from neuroepithelial cells of the neural plate and show heterogeneity, with at least three types that are localized in different locations of the CNS. As glial cells in the CNS, accumulating evidence demonstrates that ependymal cells play key roles in mammalian CNS development and normal physiological processes by controlling the production and flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain metabolism, and waste clearance. Ependymal cells have been attached to great importance by neuroscientists because of their potential to participate in CNS disease progression. Recent studies have demonstrated that ependymal cells participate in the development and progression of various neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injury and hydrocephalus, raising the possibility that they may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the disease. This review focuses on the function of ependymal cells in the developmental CNS as well as in the CNS after injury and discusses the underlying mechanisms of controlling the functions of ependymal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yaohui Tang
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Yaohui Tang, Med-X Research Institute and School of Biomedical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .
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Perez JC, Gerber YN, Perrin FE. Dynamic Diversity of Glial Response Among Species in Spinal Cord Injury. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:769548. [PMID: 34899275 PMCID: PMC8662749 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.769548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The glial scar that forms after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is mostly composed of microglia, NG2 glia, and astrocytes and plays dual roles in pathophysiological processes induced by the injury. On one hand, the glial scar acts as a chemical and physical obstacle to spontaneous axonal regeneration, thus preventing functional recovery, and, on the other hand, it partly limits lesion extension. The complex activation pattern of glial cells is associated with cellular and molecular crosstalk and interactions with immune cells. Interestingly, response to SCI is diverse among species: from amphibians and fishes that display rather limited (if any) glial scarring to mammals that exhibit a well-identifiable scar. Additionally, kinetics of glial activation varies among species. In rodents, microglia become activated before astrocytes, and both glial cell populations undergo activation processes reflected amongst others by proliferation and migration toward the injury site. In primates, glial cell activation is delayed as compared to rodents. Here, we compare the spatial and temporal diversity of the glial response, following SCI amongst species. A better understanding of mechanisms underlying glial activation and scar formation is a prerequisite to develop timely glial cell-specific therapeutic strategies that aim to increase functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yannick N Gerber
- MMDN, Université de Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence E Perrin
- MMDN, Université de Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, Montpellier, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Chevreau R, Ghazale H, Ripoll C, Chalfouh C, Delarue Q, Hemonnot-Girard AL, Mamaeva D, Hirbec H, Rothhut B, Wahane S, Perrin FE, Noristani HN, Guerout N, Hugnot JP. RNA Profiling of Mouse Ependymal Cells after Spinal Cord Injury Identifies the Oncostatin Pathway as a Potential Key Regulator of Spinal Cord Stem Cell Fate. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123332. [PMID: 34943841 PMCID: PMC8699053 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ependymal cells reside in the adult spinal cord and display stem cell properties in vitro. They proliferate after spinal cord injury and produce neurons in lower vertebrates but predominantly astrocytes in mammals. The mechanisms underlying this glial-biased differentiation remain ill-defined. We addressed this issue by generating a molecular resource through RNA profiling of ependymal cells before and after injury. We found that these cells activate STAT3 and ERK/MAPK signaling post injury and downregulate cilia-associated genes and FOXJ1, a central transcription factor in ciliogenesis. Conversely, they upregulate 510 genes, seven of them more than 20-fold, namely Crym, Ecm1, Ifi202b, Nupr1, Rbp1, Thbs2 and Osmr—the receptor for oncostatin, a microglia-specific cytokine which too is strongly upregulated after injury. We studied the regulation and role of Osmr using neurospheres derived from the adult spinal cord. We found that oncostatin induced strong Osmr and p-STAT3 expression in these cells which is associated with reduction of proliferation and promotion of astrocytic versus oligodendrocytic differentiation. Microglial cells are apposed to ependymal cells in vivo and co-culture experiments showed that these cells upregulate Osmr in neurosphere cultures. Collectively, these results support the notion that microglial cells and Osmr/Oncostatin pathway may regulate the astrocytic fate of ependymal cells in spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Chevreau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Hussein Ghazale
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Chantal Ripoll
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Chaima Chalfouh
- EA3830 GRHV, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, 76000 Rouen, France; (C.C.); (Q.D.); (N.G.)
| | - Quentin Delarue
- EA3830 GRHV, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, 76000 Rouen, France; (C.C.); (Q.D.); (N.G.)
| | - Anne Laure Hemonnot-Girard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Daria Mamaeva
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France;
| | - Helene Hirbec
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Bernard Rothhut
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
| | - Shalaka Wahane
- Departments of Neurobiology and Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Florence Evelyne Perrin
- Department of Biology, University of Montpellier, INSERM MMDN, EPHE, 34295 Montpellier, France;
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75231 Paris, France
| | - Harun Najib Noristani
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center and Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA;
| | - Nicolas Guerout
- EA3830 GRHV, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, 76000 Rouen, France; (C.C.); (Q.D.); (N.G.)
| | - Jean Philippe Hugnot
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34295 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (H.G.); (C.R.); (A.L.H.-G.); (H.H.); (B.R.)
- Correspondence:
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Zhang Y, Yang S, Liu C, Han X, Gu X, Zhou S. Deciphering glial scar after spinal cord injury. BURNS & TRAUMA 2021; 9:tkab035. [PMID: 34761050 PMCID: PMC8576268 DOI: 10.1093/burnst/tkab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to permanent disability, which is mainly caused by the loss of functional recovery. In this review, we aimed to investigate why the healing process is interrupted. One of the reasons for this interruption is the formation of a glial scar around the severely damaged tissue, which is usually covered by reactive glia, macrophages and fibroblasts. Aiming to clarify this issue, we summarize the latest research findings pertaining to scar formation, tissue repair, and the divergent roles of blood-derived monocytes/macrophages, ependymal cells, fibroblasts, microglia, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2) and astrocytes during the process of scar formation, and further analyse the contribution of these cells to scar formation. In addition, we recapitulate the development of therapeutic treatments targeting glial scar components. Altogether, we aim to present a comprehensive decoding of the glial scar and explore potential therapeutic strategies for improving functional recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Shuhai Yang
- Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaosong Gu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Songlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
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Buzoianu-Anguiano V, Torres-Llacsa M, Doncel-Pérez E. Role of Aldynoglia Cells in Neuroinflammatory and Neuroimmune Responses after Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2021; 10:2783. [PMID: 34685763 PMCID: PMC8534338 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aldynoglia are growth-promoting cells with a morphology similar to radial glia and share properties and markers with astrocytes and Schwann cells. They are distributed in several locations throughout the adult central nervous system, where the cells of the aldynoglia interact and respond to the signals of the immune cells. After spinal cord injury (SCI), the functions of resident aldynoglia, identified as ependymocytes, tanycytes, and ependymal stem cells (EpSCs) of the spinal cord are crucial for the regeneration of spinal neural tissue. These glial cells facilitate axonal regrowth and remyelination of injured axons. Here, we review the influence of M1 or M2 macrophage/microglia subpopulations on the fate of EpSCs during neuroinflammation and immune responses in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mabel Torres-Llacsa
- Servicio de Radiología, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain;
| | - Ernesto Doncel-Pérez
- Grupo de Química Neuro-Regenerativa, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain;
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36
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Isolate and Culture Neural Stem Cells from the Mouse Adult Spinal Cord. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2389:45-56. [PMID: 34558000 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1783-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Whereas neural stem cells and their niches have been extensively studied in the brain, little is known on these cells, their environment, and their function in the adult spinal cord. Adult spinal cord neural stem cells are located in a complex niche surrounding the central canal, and these cells expressed genes which are specifically expressed in the caudal central nervous system (CNS). In-depth characterization of these cells in vivo and in vitro will provide interesting clues on the possibility to utilize this endogenous cell pool to treat spinal cord damages. We describe here a procedure to derive and culture neural spinal cord stem cells from adult mice using the neurosphere method.
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37
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Tonti OR, Larson H, Lipp SN, Luetkemeyer CM, Makam M, Vargas D, Wilcox SM, Calve S. Tissue-specific parameters for the design of ECM-mimetic biomaterials. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:83-102. [PMID: 33878474 PMCID: PMC8434955 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of biomolecules that mechanically and biochemically directs cell behavior and is crucial for maintaining tissue function and health. The heterogeneous organization and composition of the ECM varies within and between tissue types, directing mechanics, aiding in cell-cell communication, and facilitating tissue assembly and reassembly during development, injury and disease. As technologies like 3D printing rapidly advance, researchers are better able to recapitulate in vivo tissue properties in vitro; however, tissue-specific variations in ECM composition and organization are not given enough consideration. This is in part due to a lack of information regarding how the ECM of many tissues varies in both homeostatic and diseased states. To address this gap, we describe the components and organization of the ECM, and provide examples for different tissues at various states of disease. While many aspects of ECM biology remain unknown, our goal is to highlight the complexity of various tissues and inspire engineers to incorporate unique components of the native ECM into in vitro platform design and fabrication. Ultimately, we anticipate that the use of biomaterials that incorporate key tissue-specific ECM will lead to in vitro models that better emulate human pathologies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Biomaterial development primarily emphasizes the engineering of new materials and therapies at the expense of identifying key parameters of the tissue that is being emulated. This can be partially attributed to the difficulty in defining the 3D composition, organization, and mechanics of the ECM within different tissues and how these material properties vary as a function of homeostasis and disease. In this review, we highlight a range of tissues throughout the body and describe how ECM content, cell diversity, and mechanical properties change in diseased tissues and influence cellular behavior. Accurately mimicking the tissue of interest in vitro by using ECM specific to the appropriate state of homeostasis or pathology in vivo will yield results more translatable to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia R Tonti
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Hannah Larson
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Sarah N Lipp
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Callan M Luetkemeyer
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Megan Makam
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Diego Vargas
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Sean M Wilcox
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Sarah Calve
- Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 1111 Engineering Center, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
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Torrillas de la Cal A, Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Faulkes CG, Jiménez AJ, Ferrer I, Molina-Holgado E, Garcia-Ovejero D. The Structure of the Spinal Cord Ependymal Region in Adult Humans Is a Distinctive Trait among Mammals. Cells 2021; 10:2235. [PMID: 34571884 PMCID: PMC8469235 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In species that regenerate the injured spinal cord, the ependymal region is a source of new cells and a prominent coordinator of regeneration. In mammals, cells at the ependymal region proliferate in normal conditions and react after injury, but in humans, the central canal is lost in the majority of individuals from early childhood. It is replaced by a structure that does not proliferate after damage and is formed by large accumulations of ependymal cells, strong astrogliosis and perivascular pseudo-rosettes. We inform here of two additional mammals that lose the central canal during their lifetime: the Naked Mole-Rat (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber) and the mutant hyh (hydrocephalus with hop gait) mice. The morphological study of their spinal cords shows that the tissue substituting the central canal is not similar to that found in humans. In both NMR and hyh mice, the central canal is replaced by tissue reminiscent of normal lamina X and may include small groups of ependymal cells in the midline, partially resembling specific domains of the former canal. However, no features of the adult human ependymal remnant are found, suggesting that this structure is a specific human trait. In order to shed some more light on the mechanism of human central canal closure, we provide new data suggesting that canal patency is lost by delamination of the ependymal epithelium, in a process that includes apical polarity loss and the expression of signaling mediators involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Torrillas de la Cal
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Beatriz Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Christopher Guy Faulkes
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Antonio Jesús Jiménez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d’Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
| | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
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Diversity of Adult Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells in Physiology and Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082045. [PMID: 34440814 PMCID: PMC8392301 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) contribute to learning, memory, maintenance of homeostasis, energy metabolism and many other essential processes. They are highly heterogeneous populations that require input from a regionally distinct microenvironment including a mix of neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, NG2+ glia, vasculature, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and others. The diversity of NSPCs is present in all three major parts of the CNS, i.e., the brain, spinal cord, and retina. Intrinsic and extrinsic signals, e.g., neurotrophic and growth factors, master transcription factors, and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), collectively regulate activities and characteristics of NSPCs: quiescence/survival, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and integration. This review discusses the heterogeneous NSPC populations in the normal physiology and highlights their potentials and roles in injured/diseased states for regenerative medicine.
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Miyajima H, Itokazu T, Tanabe S, Yamashita T. Interleukin-17A regulates ependymal cell proliferation and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:766. [PMID: 34344859 PMCID: PMC8333070 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ependymal cells have been suggested to act as neural stem cells and exert beneficial effects after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the molecular mechanism underlying ependymal cell regulation after SCI remains unknown. To examine the possible effect of IL-17A on ependymal cell proliferation after SCI, we locally administrated IL-17A neutralizing antibody to the injured spinal cord of a contusion SCI mouse model, and revealed that IL-17A neutralization promoted ependymal cell proliferation, which was paralleled by functional recovery and axonal reorganization of both the corticospinal tract and the raphespinal tract. Further, to test whether ependymal cell-specific manipulation of IL-17A signaling is enough to affect the outcomes of SCI, we generated ependymal cell-specific conditional IL-17RA-knockout mice and analyzed their anatomical and functional response to SCI. As a result, conditional knockout of IL-17RA in ependymal cells enhanced both axonal growth and functional recovery, accompanied by an increase in mRNA expression of neurotrophic factors. Thus, Ependymal cells may enhance the regenerative process partially by secreting neurotrophic factors, and IL-17A stimulation negatively regulates this beneficial effect. Molecular manipulation of ependymal cells might be a viable strategy for improving functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisao Miyajima
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Takahide Itokazu
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
- Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
| | - Shogo Tanabe
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshihide Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
- Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
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Milich LM, Choi JS, Ryan C, Cerqueira SR, Benavides S, Yahn SL, Tsoulfas P, Lee JK. Single-cell analysis of the cellular heterogeneity and interactions in the injured mouse spinal cord. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20210040. [PMID: 34132743 PMCID: PMC8212781 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The wound healing process that occurs after spinal cord injury is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis and limiting tissue damage, but eventually results in a scar-like environment that is not conducive to regeneration and repair. A better understanding of this dichotomy is critical to developing effective therapeutics that target the appropriate pathobiology, but a major challenge has been the large cellular heterogeneity that results in immensely complex cellular interactions. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to assess virtually all cell types that comprise the mouse spinal cord injury site. In addition to discovering novel subpopulations, we used expression values of receptor-ligand pairs to identify signaling pathways that are predicted to regulate specific cellular interactions during angiogenesis, gliosis, and fibrosis. Our dataset is a valuable resource that provides novel mechanistic insight into the pathobiology of not only spinal cord injury but also other traumatic disorders of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M. Milich
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- University of Miami Neuroscience Graduate Program, Miami, FL
| | - James S. Choi
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Christine Ryan
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- University of Miami Neuroscience Graduate Program, Miami, FL
| | - Susana R. Cerqueira
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Sofia Benavides
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Stephanie L. Yahn
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- University of Miami Neuroscience Graduate Program, Miami, FL
| | - Pantelis Tsoulfas
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Jae K. Lee
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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42
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Kisucká A, Bimbová K, Bačová M, Gálik J, Lukáčová N. Activation of Neuroprotective Microglia and Astrocytes at the Lesion Site and in the Adjacent Segments Is Crucial for Spontaneous Locomotor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2021; 10:1943. [PMID: 34440711 PMCID: PMC8394075 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia and astrocytes play an important role in the regulation of immune responses under various pathological conditions. To detect environmental cues associated with the transformation of reactive microglia (M1) and astrocytes (A1) into their polarization states (anti-inflammatory M2 and A2 phenotypes), we studied time-dependent gene expression in naive and injured spinal cord. The relationship between astrocytes and microglia and their polarization states were studied in a rat model after Th9 compression (40 g/15 min) in acute and subacute stages at the lesion site, and both cranially and caudally. The gene expression of microglia/macrophages and M1 microglia was strongly up-regulated at the lesion site and caudally one week after SCI, and attenuated after two weeks post-SCI. GFAP and S100B, and A1 astrocytes were profoundly expressed predominantly two weeks post-SCI at lesion site and cranially. Gene expression of anti-inflammatory M2a microglia (CD206, CHICHI, IL1rn, Arg-1), M2c microglia (TGF-β, SOCS3, IL4R α) and A2 astrocytes (Tgm1, Ptx3, CD109) was greatly activated at the lesion site one week post-SCI. In addition, we observed positive correlation between neurological outcome and expression of M2a, M2c, and A2 markers. Our findings indicate that the first week post-injury is critical for modulation of reactive microglia/astrocytes into their neuroprotective phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nadežda Lukáčová
- Institute of Neurobiology of Biomedical Research Centre of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Soltesovej 4, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia; (A.K.); (K.B.); (M.B.); (J.G.)
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43
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Moulson AJ, Squair JW, Franklin RJM, Tetzlaff W, Assinck P. Diversity of Reactive Astrogliosis in CNS Pathology: Heterogeneity or Plasticity? Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:703810. [PMID: 34381334 PMCID: PMC8349991 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.703810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for the development and homeostatic maintenance of the central nervous system (CNS). They are also critical players in the CNS injury response during which they undergo a process referred to as "reactive astrogliosis." Diversity in astrocyte morphology and gene expression, as revealed by transcriptional analysis, is well-recognized and has been reported in several CNS pathologies, including ischemic stroke, CNS demyelination, and traumatic injury. This diversity appears unique to the specific pathology, with significant variance across temporal, topographical, age, and sex-specific variables. Despite this, there is limited functional data corroborating this diversity. Furthermore, as reactive astrocytes display significant environmental-dependent plasticity and fate-mapping data on astrocyte subsets in the adult CNS is limited, it remains unclear whether this diversity represents heterogeneity or plasticity. As astrocytes are important for neuronal survival and CNS function post-injury, establishing to what extent this diversity reflects distinct established heterogeneous astrocyte subpopulations vs. environmentally dependent plasticity within established astrocyte subsets will be critical for guiding therapeutic development. To that end, we review the current state of knowledge on astrocyte diversity in the context of three representative CNS pathologies: ischemic stroke, demyelination, and traumatic injury, with the goal of identifying key limitations in our current knowledge and suggesting future areas of research needed to address them. We suggest that the majority of identified astrocyte diversity in CNS pathologies to date represents plasticity in response to dynamically changing post-injury environments as opposed to heterogeneity, an important consideration for the understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Moulson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jordan W. Squair
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), NeuroRestore, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Robin J. M. Franklin
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfram Tetzlaff
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Peggy Assinck
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Trujillo-Cenóz O, Rehermann MI, Maciel C, Falco MV, Fabbiani G, Russo RE. The ependymal cell cytoskeleton in the normal and injured spinal cord of mice. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:2592-2609. [PMID: 34288039 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24918] [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: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton of ependymal cells is fundamental to organize and maintain the normal architecture of the central canal (CC). However, little is known about the plasticity of cytoskeletal components after spinal cord injury. Here, we focus on the structural organization of the cytoskeleton of ependymal cells in the normal and injured spinal cord of mice (both females and males) using immunohistochemical and electron microscopy techniques. We found that in uninjured animals, the actin cytoskeleton (as revealed by phalloidin staining) was arranged following the typical pattern of polarized epithelial cells with conspicuous actin pools located in the apical domain of ependymal cells. Transmission electron microscopy images showed microvilli tufts, long cilia, and characteristic intercellular membrane specializations. After spinal cord injury, F-actin rearrangements paralleled by fine structural modifications of the apical domain of ependymal cells were observed. These changes involved disruptions of the apical actin pools as well as fine structural modifications of the microvilli tufts. When comparing the control and injured spinal cords, we also found modifications in the expression of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). After injury, vimentin expression disappeared from the most apical domains of ependymal cells but the number of GFAP-expressing cells within the CC increased. As in other polarized epithelia, the plastic changes in the cytoskeleton may be critically involved in the reaction of ependymal cells following a traumatic injury of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Trujillo-Cenóz
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María I Rehermann
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Maciel
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María V Falco
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriela Fabbiani
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Raúl E Russo
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
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45
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Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals Nestin + active neural stem cells outside the central canal after spinal cord injury. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 65:295-308. [PMID: 34061300 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1930-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the spinal cord hold great potential for repair after spinal cord injury (SCI). The ependyma in the central canal (CC) region has been considered as the NSCs source in the spinal cord. However, the ependyma function as NSCs after SCI is still under debate. We used Nestin as a marker to isolate potential NSCs and their immediate progeny, and characterized the cells before and after SCI by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). We identified two subgroups of NSCs: the subgroup located within the CC cannot prime to active NSCs after SCI, while the subgroup located outside the CC were activated and exhibited the active NSCs properties after SCI. We demonstrated the comprehensive dynamic transcriptome of NSCs from quiescent to active NSCs after SCI. This study reveals that Nestin+ cells outside CC were NSCs that activated upon SCI and may thus serve as endogenous NSCs for regenerative treatment of SCI in the future.
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46
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Anderson MA. Targeting Central Nervous System Regeneration with Cell Type Specificity. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2021; 32:397-405. [PMID: 34053727 DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
There have been tremendous advances in identifying cellular and molecular mechanisms constraining axon growth and strategies have been developed to overcome regenerative failure. However, reproducible and meaningful functional recovery remains elusive. An emerging reason is that neurons possess subtype-specific activation requirements. Much of this evidence comes from studying retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve injury. This review summarizes key neuropathologic events following spinal cord injury, and draws on findings from the optic nerve to suggest how a similar framework may be used to dissect and manipulate the heterogeneous and subtype-specific responses of neurons useful to target for spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Anderson
- Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Féderale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Neural Repair Unit, NeuroRestore, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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47
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Zeb2 Is a Regulator of Astrogliosis and Functional Recovery after CNS Injury. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107834. [PMID: 32610135 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The astrocytic response to injury is characterized on the cellular level, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the cellular processes is incomplete. The astrocytic response to injury is similar to wound-healing responses in non-neural tissues that involve epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and upregulation in ZEB transcription factors. Here we show that injury-induced astrogliosis increases EMT-related genes expression, including Zeb2, and long non-coding RNAs, including Zeb2os, which facilitates ZEB2 protein translation. In mouse models of either contusive spinal cord injury or transient ischemic stroke, the conditional knockout of Zeb2 in astrocytes attenuates astrogliosis, generates larger lesions, and delays the recovery of motor function. These findings reveal ZEB2 as an important regulator of the astrocytic response to injury and suggest that astrogliosis is an EMT-like process, which provides a conceptual connection for the molecular and cellular similarities between astrogliosis and wound-healing responses in non-neural tissue.
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48
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Patel M, Li Y, Anderson J, Castro-Pedrido S, Skinner R, Lei S, Finkel Z, Rodriguez B, Esteban F, Lee KB, Lyu YL, Cai L. Gsx1 promotes locomotor functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2469-2482. [PMID: 33895323 PMCID: PMC8353206 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Promoting residential cells, particularly endogenous neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs), for tissue regeneration represents a potential strategy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, adult NSPCs differentiate mainly into glial cells and contribute to glial scar formation at the site of injury. Gsx1 is known to regulate the generation of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons during embryonic development of the spinal cord. In this study, we show that lentivirus-mediated expression of Gsx1 increases the number of NSPCs in a mouse model of lateral hemisection SCI during the acute stage. Subsequently, Gsx1 expression increases the generation of glutamatergic and cholinergic interneurons and decreases the generation of GABAergic interneurons in the chronic stage of SCI. Importantly, Gsx1 reduces reactive astrogliosis and glial scar formation, promotes serotonin (5-HT) neuronal activity, and improves the locomotor function of the injured mice. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis reveals that Gsx1-induced transcriptome regulation correlates with NSPC signaling, NSPC activation, neuronal differentiation, and inhibition of astrogliosis and scar formation. Collectively, our study provides molecular insights for Gsx1-mediated functional recovery and identifies the potential of Gsx1 gene therapy for injuries in the spinal cord and possibly other parts of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misaal Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jeremy Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Sofia Castro-Pedrido
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ryan Skinner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shunyao Lei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Zachary Finkel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Brianna Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Fatima Esteban
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ki-Bum Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Yi Lisa Lyu
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Li Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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49
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Lineage tracing reveals the origin of Nestin-positive cells are heterogeneous and rarely from ependymal cells after spinal cord injury. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 65:757-769. [PMID: 33772745 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1901-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nestin is expressed extensively in neural stem/progenitor cells during neural development, but its expression is mainly restricted to the ependymal cells in the adult spinal cord. After spinal cord injury (SCI), Nestin expression is reactivated and Nestin-positive (Nestin+) cells aggregate at the injury site. However, the derivation of Nestin+ cells is not clearly defined. Here, we found that Nestin expression was substantially increased in the lesion edge and lesion core after SCI. Using a tamoxifen inducible CreER(T2)-loxP system, we verified that ependymal cells contribute few Nestin+ cells either to the lesion core or the lesion edge after SCI. In the lesion edge, GFAP+ astrocytes were the main cell type that expressed Nestin; they then formed an astrocyte scar. In the lesion core, Nestin+ cells expressed αSMA or Desmin, indicating that they might be derived from pericytes. Our results reveal that Nestin+ cells in the lesion core and edge came from various cell types and rarely from ependymal cells after complete transected SCI, which may provide new insights into SCI repair.
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50
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Tai W, Wu W, Wang LL, Ni H, Chen C, Yang J, Zang T, Zou Y, Xu XM, Zhang CL. In vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia enables adult neurogenesis and functional recovery following spinal cord injury. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:923-937.e4. [PMID: 33675690 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis plays critical roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and responding to neurogenic insults. However, the adult mammalian spinal cord lacks an intrinsic capacity for neurogenesis. Here we show that spinal cord injury (SCI) unveils a latent neurogenic potential of NG2+ glial cells, which can be exploited to produce new neurons and promote functional recovery after SCI. Although endogenous SOX2 is required for SCI-induced transient reprogramming, ectopic SOX2 expression is necessary and sufficient to unleash the full neurogenic potential of NG2 glia. Ectopic SOX2-induced neurogenesis proceeds through an expandable ASCL1+ progenitor stage and generates excitatory and inhibitory propriospinal neurons, which make synaptic connections with ascending and descending spinal pathways. Importantly, SOX2-mediated reprogramming of NG2 glia reduces glial scarring and promotes functional recovery after SCI. These results reveal a latent neurogenic potential of somatic glial cells, which can be leveraged for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Lei-Lei Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Haoqi Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jianjing Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tong Zang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yuhua Zou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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