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Sánchez-Ventura J, Lago N, Penas C, Navarro X, Udina E. Link Protein 1 Is Involved in the Activity-Dependent Modulation of Perineuronal Nets in the Spinal Cord. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4267. [PMID: 38673852 PMCID: PMC11050079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084267] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the challenges of the mature nervous system is to maintain the stability of neural networks while providing a degree of plasticity to generate experience-dependent modifications. This plasticity-stability dynamism is regulated by perineuronal nets (PNNs) and is crucial for the proper functioning of the system. Previously, we found a relation between spinal PNNs reduction and maladaptive plasticity after spinal cord injury (SCI), which was attenuated by maintaining PNNs with activity-dependent therapies. Moreover, transgenic mice lacking the cartilage link protein 1 (Crtl1 KO mice) showed aberrant spinal PNNs and increased spinal plasticity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the role of link protein 1 in the activity-dependent modulation of spinal PNNs surrounding motoneurons and its impact on the maladaptive plasticity observed following SCI. We first studied the activity-dependent modulation of spinal PNNs using a voluntary wheel-running protocol. This training protocol increased spinal PNNs in WT mice but did not modify PNN components in Crtl1 KO mice, suggesting that link protein 1 mediates the activity-dependent modulation of PNNs. Secondly, a thoracic SCI was performed, and functional outcomes were evaluated for 35 days. Interestingly, hyperreflexia and hyperalgesia found at the end of the experiment in WT-injured mice were already present at basal levels in Crtl1 KO mice and remained unchanged after the injury. These findings demonstrated that link protein 1 plays a dual role in the correct formation and in activity-dependent modulation of PNNs, turning it into an essential element for the proper function of PNN in spinal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xavier Navarro
- Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain (N.L.); (C.P.)
| | - Esther Udina
- Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain (N.L.); (C.P.)
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Harvey LA, Glinsky JV, Chu J, Herbert RD, Liu H, Jan S, Billot L, Scivoletto G, Spooren AI, Seelen HA, Ben M, Tranter K, Chen LW, Rainey D, Rimmer C, Jorgensen V, Di Natal F, Denis S, Gollan EJ, Tamburella F, Agostinello J, van Laake-Geelen CM, Bell C, Lincoln C, Stolwijk JM, van der Lede J, Paddison S, Oostra K, Cameron ID, Weber G, Sherrington C, Nunn AK, Synnott EL, McCaughey E, Kaur J, Shetty S. Early and intensive motor training to enhance neurological recovery in people with spinal cord injury: trial protocol. Spinal Cord 2023; 61:521-527. [PMID: 37414835 PMCID: PMC10495259 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-023-00908-z] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (the SCI-MT trial). OBJECTIVES To determine whether 10 weeks of intensive motor training enhances neurological recovery in people with recent spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING Fifteen spinal injury units in Australia, Scotland, England, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium. METHODS A pragmatic randomised controlled trial will be undertaken. Two hundred and twenty people with recent SCI (onset in the preceding 10 weeks, American Spinal Injuries Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A lesion with motor function more than three levels below the motor level on one or both sides, or an AIS C or D lesion) will be randomised to receive either usual care plus intensive motor training (12 h of motor training per week for 10 weeks) or usual care alone. The primary outcome is neurological recovery at 10 weeks, measured with the Total Motor Score from the International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI. Secondary outcomes include global measures of motor function, ability to walk, quality of life, participants' perceptions about ability to perform self-selected goals, length of hospital stay and participants' impressions of therapeutic benefit at 10 weeks and 6 months. A cost-effectiveness study and process evaluation will be run alongside the trial. The first participant was randomised in June 2021 and the trial is due for completion in 2025. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the SCI-MT Trial will guide recommendations about the type and dose of inpatient therapy that optimises neurological recovery in people with SCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION ACTRN12621000091808 (1.2.2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Harvey
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Joanne V Glinsky
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jackie Chu
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Hueiming Liu
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen Jan
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurent Billot
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Henk A Seelen
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
| | - Marsha Ben
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Keira Tranter
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lydia W Chen
- Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Sophie Denis
- Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Charlotte M van Laake-Geelen
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Research School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Bell
- Repatriation General Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Claire Lincoln
- Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injures Unit, Glasgow, UK
| | - Janneke M Stolwijk
- Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica van der Lede
- Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sue Paddison
- London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust, Middlesex, UK
| | | | - Ian D Cameron
- John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Catherine Sherrington
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew K Nunn
- Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Euan McCaughey
- Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injures Unit, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jasbeer Kaur
- Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Goltash S, Stevens SJ, Topcu E, Bui TV. Changes in synaptic inputs to dI3 INs and MNs after complete transection in adult mice. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1176310. [PMID: 37476398 PMCID: PMC10354275 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1176310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that disrupts the communication between the brain and the spinal cord. Several studies have sought to determine how to revive dormant spinal circuits caudal to the lesion to restore movements in paralyzed patients. So far, recovery levels in human patients have been modest at best. In contrast, animal models of SCI exhibit more recovery of lost function. Previous work from our lab has identified dI3 interneurons as a spinal neuron population central to the recovery of locomotor function in spinalized mice. We seek to determine the changes in the circuitry of dI3 interneurons and motoneurons following SCI in adult mice. Methods After a complete transection of the spinal cord at T9-T11 level in transgenic Isl1:YFP mice and subsequent treadmill training at various time points of recovery following surgery, we examined changes in three key circuits involving dI3 interneurons and motoneurons: (1) Sensory inputs from proprioceptive and cutaneous afferents, (2) Presynaptic inhibition of sensory inputs, and (3) Central excitatory glutamatergic synapses from spinal neurons onto dI3 INs and motoneurons. Furthermore, we examined the possible role of treadmill training on changes in synaptic connectivity to dI3 interneurons and motoneurons. Results Our data suggests that VGLUT1+ inputs to dI3 interneurons decrease transiently or only at later stages after injury, whereas levels of VGLUT1+ remain the same for motoneurons after injury. Levels of VGLUT2+ inputs to dI3 INs and MNs may show transient increases but fall below levels seen in sham-operated mice after a period of time. Levels of presynaptic inhibition to VGLUT1+ inputs to dI3 INs and MNs can rise shortly after SCI, but those increases do not persist. However, levels of presynaptic inhibition to VGLUT1+ inputs never fell below levels observed in sham-operated mice. For some synaptic inputs studied, levels were higher in spinal cord-injured animals that received treadmill training, but these increases were observed only at some time points. Discussion These results suggest remodeling of spinal circuits involving spinal interneurons that have previously been implicated in the recovery of locomotor function after spinal cord injury in mice.
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Pan L, Yi L, Liu Y, Liu L, Zhu Y, Zhong J, Wang Y, Yin Y, Yu L, Tan B, Yang C. Effects of task-based rehabilitative training combined with PTEN/SOCS3 coinhibition promotes axon regeneration and upper extremity skilled motor function recovery after cervical spinal cord injury in adult mice. Neurosci Lett 2023; 800:137121. [PMID: 36764478 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137121] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies reported that the codeletion of PTEN and SOCS3 can greatly enhance the capacity of axon regeneration after central nervous system (CNS) injury. Moreover, the promotion of functional recovery can be improved by rehabilitative training under a use-dependent plasticity mechanism after CNS injury. However, few studies have reported the interaction between these mechanisms after spinal cord injury (SCI). Therefore, we investigated the combined effects of PTEN/SOCS3 coinhibition and rehabilitative training on axon regeneration and upper extremity motor functional improvement after cervical SCI in mice. In this study, we used RNA interference viruses to coinhibit PTEN and SOCS3 and induced a C5 crush injury on the side of preference. The injured upper extremity was trained by single pellet grasping for 4 weeks. We found that the coinjection of viruses significantly increased the expression of p-S6 and p-STAT in the cortex, reduced the dieback pattern of injured axons and promoted traced axon regeneration. More importantly, combination therapy further enhanced axon regeneration compared with PTEN/SOCS3 coinhibition alone. In behavioral tests, the motor performance of the mice in the PTEN/SOCS3 + Training group was better than that of the mice in the other groups. These results indicate that combining task-based rehabilitative training with PTEN/SOCS3 coinhibition further promotes axon regeneration and significant improvement in forelimb skilled motor function after cervical SCI. Our findings provide new therapeutic insights into SCI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Department of Research Institute of Surgery, The Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Lingrong Yi
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Department of Research Institute of Surgery, The Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Brain, The Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400011, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Juan Zhong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Yunhang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Department of Research Institute of Surgery, The Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Lehua Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Botao Tan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
| | - Ce Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Department of Research Institute of Surgery, The Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
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Moderate-Intensity Treadmill Exercise Promotes mTOR-Dependent Motor Cortical Neurotrophic Factor Expression and Functional Recovery in a Murine Model of Crush Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:960-978. [PMID: 36385234 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03117-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Treadmill exercise is widely considered an effective strategy for restoration of skilled motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the specific exercise intensity that optimizes recovery and the underlying mechanistic basis of this recovery remain unclear. To that end, we sought to investigate the effect of different treadmill exercise intensities on cortical mTOR activity, a key regulator of functional recovery following CNS trauma, in an animal model of C5 crush spinal cord injury (SCI). Following injury, animals were subjected to treadmill exercise for 4 consecutive weeks at three different intensities (low intensity [LEI]; moderate intensity [MEI]; and high intensity [HEI]). Motor function recovery was assessed by horizontal ladder test, cylinder rearing test, and electrophysiology, while neurotrophic factors and cortical mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway-related proteins were assessed by Western blotting. The activation of the cortical mTOR pathway and axonal sprouting was evaluated by immunofluorescence and the changes of plasticity in motor cortex neurons were assessed by Golgi staining. In keeping with previous studies, we found that 4 weeks of treadmill training resulted in improved skilled motor function, enhanced nerve conduction capability, increased neuroplasticity, and axonal sprouting. Importantly, we also demonstrated that when compared with the LEI group, MEI and HEI groups demonstrated elevated expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), phosphorylated ribosomal S6 protein (p-S6), and protein kinase B (p-Akt), consistent with an intensity-dependent activation of the mTOR pathway and neurotrophic factor expression in the motor cortex. We also observed impaired exercise endurance and higher mortality during training in the HEI group than in the LEI and MEI groups. Collectively, our findings suggest that treadmill exercise following SCI is an effective means of promoting recovery and highlight the importance of the cortical mTOR pathway and neurotrophic factors as mediators of this effect. Importantly, our findings also demonstrate that excessive exercise can be detrimental, suggesting that moderation may be the optimal strategy. These findings provide an important foundation for further investigation of treadmill training as a modality for recovery following spinal cord injury and of the underlying mechanisms.
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The Proteostasis Network: A Global Therapeutic Target for Neuroprotection after Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213339. [PMID: 36359735 PMCID: PMC9658791 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213339] [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] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteostasis (protein homeostasis) is critical for cellular as well as organismal survival. It is strictly regulated by multiple conserved pathways including the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, the heat shock response, the integrated stress response, and the unfolded protein response. These overlapping proteostasis maintenance modules respond to various forms of cellular stress as well as organismal injury. While proteostasis restoration and ultimately organism survival is the main evolutionary driver of such a regulation, unresolved disruption of proteostasis may engage pro-apoptotic mediators of those pathways to eliminate defective cells. In this review, we discuss proteostasis contributions to the pathogenesis of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Most published reports focused on the role of proteostasis networks in acute/sub-acute tissue damage post-SCI. Those reports reveal a complex picture with cell type- and/or proteostasis mediator-specific effects on loss of neurons and/or glia that often translate into the corresponding modulation of functional recovery. Effects of proteostasis networks on such phenomena as neuro-repair, post-injury plasticity, as well as systemic manifestations of SCI including dysregulation of the immune system, metabolism or cardiovascular function are currently understudied. However, as potential interventions that target the proteostasis networks are expected to impact many cell types across multiple organ systems that are compromised after SCI, such therapies could produce beneficial effects across the wide spectrum of highly variable human SCI.
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Sinopoulou E, Spejo AB, Roopnarine N, Burnside ER, Bartus K, De Winter F, McMahon SB, Bradbury EJ. Chronic muscle recordings reveal recovery of forelimb function in spinal injured female rats after cortical epidural stimulation combined with rehabilitation and chondroitinase ABC. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:2055-2076. [PMID: 35916483 PMCID: PMC9544922 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cervical level spinal cord injury (SCI) can severely impact upper limb muscle function, which is typically assessed in the clinic using electromyography (EMG). Here, we established novel preclinical methodology for EMG assessments of muscle function after SCI in awake freely moving animals. Adult female rats were implanted with EMG recording electrodes in bicep muscles and received bilateral cervical (C7) contusion injuries. Forelimb muscle activity was assessed by recording maximum voluntary contractions during a grip strength task and cortical motor evoked potentials in the biceps. We demonstrate that longitudinal recordings of muscle activity in the same animal are feasible over a chronic post-injury time course and provide a sensitive method for revealing post-injury changes in muscle activity. This methodology was utilized to investigate recovery of muscle function after a novel combination therapy. Cervical contused animals received intraspinal injections of a neuroplasticity-promoting agent (lentiviral-chondroitinase ABC) plus 11 weeks of cortical epidural electrical stimulation (3 h daily, 5 days/week) and behavioral rehabilitation (15 min daily, 5 days/week). Longitudinal monitoring of voluntary and evoked muscle activity revealed significantly increased muscle activity and upper limb dexterity with the combination treatment, compared to a single treatment or no treatment. Retrograde mapping of motor neurons innervating the biceps showed a predominant distribution across spinal segments C5-C8, indicating that treatment effects were likely due to neuroplastic changes in a mixture of intact and injured motor neurons. Thus, longitudinal assessments of muscle function after SCI correlate with skilled reach and grasp performance and reveal functional benefits of a novel combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Sinopoulou
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK.,Department of Neuroscience, The Center for Neural Repair, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Aline Barroso Spejo
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
| | - Naomi Roopnarine
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
| | - Emily R Burnside
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
| | - Katalin Bartus
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
| | - Fred De Winter
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen B McMahon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Bradbury
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Regeneration Group, The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, London, UK
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Sánchez-Ventura J, Lane MA, Udina E. The Role and Modulation of Spinal Perineuronal Nets in the Healthy and Injured Spinal Cord. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:893857. [PMID: 35669108 PMCID: PMC9163449 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.893857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rather than being a stable scaffold, perineuronal nets (PNNs) are a dynamic and specialized extracellular matrix involved in plasticity modulation. They have been extensively studied in the brain and associated with neuroprotection, ionic buffering, and neural maturation. However, their biological function in the spinal cord and the effects of disrupting spinal PNNs remain elusive. The goal of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of spinal PNNs and their potential in pathological conditions such as traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). We also highlighted interventions that have been used to modulate the extracellular matrix after SCI, targeting the glial scar and spinal PNNs, in an effort to promote regeneration and stabilization of the spinal circuits, respectively. These concepts are discussed in the framework of developmental and neuroplastic changes in PNNs, drawing similarities between immature and denervated neurons after an SCI, which may provide a useful context for future SCI research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Sánchez-Ventura
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Michael A. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- The Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Esther Udina
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
- *Correspondence: Esther Udina
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Inositol Polyphosphate-5-Phosphatase K ( Inpp5k) Enhances Sprouting of Corticospinal Tract Axons after CNS Trauma. J Neurosci 2022; 42:2190-2204. [PMID: 35135857 PMCID: PMC8936595 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0897-21.2022] [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: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure of CNS neurons to mount a significant growth response after trauma contributes to chronic functional deficits after spinal cord injury. Activator and repressor screening of embryonic cortical neurons and retinal ganglion cells in vitro and transcriptional profiling of developing CNS neurons harvested in vivo have identified several candidates that stimulate robust axon growth in vitro and in vivo Building on these studies, we sought to identify novel axon growth activators induced in the complex adult CNS environment in vivo We transcriptionally profiled intact sprouting adult corticospinal neurons (CSNs) after contralateral pyramidotomy (PyX) in nogo receptor-1 knock-out mice and found that intact CSNs were enriched in genes in the 3-phosphoinositide degradation pathway, including six 5-phosphatases. We explored whether inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase K (Inpp5k) could enhance corticospinal tract (CST) axon growth in preclinical models of acute and chronic CNS trauma. Overexpression of Inpp5k in intact adult CSNs in male and female mice enhanced the sprouting of intact CST terminals after PyX and cortical stroke and sprouting of CST axons after acute and chronic severe thoracic spinal contusion. We show that Inpp5k stimulates axon growth in part by elevating the density of active cofilin in labile growth cones, thus stimulating actin polymerization and enhancing microtubule protrusion into distal filopodia. We identify Inpp5k as a novel CST growth activator capable of driving compensatory axon growth in multiple complex CNS injury environments and underscores the veracity of using in vivo transcriptional screening to identify the next generation of cell-autonomous factors capable of repairing the damaged CNS.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurologic recovery is limited after spinal cord injury as CNS neurons are incapable of self-repair post-trauma. In vitro screening strategies exploit the intrinsically high growth capacity of embryonic CNS neurons to identify novel axon growth activators. While promising candidates have been shown to stimulate axon growth in vivo, concomitant functional recovery remains incomplete. We identified Inpp5k as a novel axon growth activator using transcriptional profiling of intact adult corticospinal tract (CST) neurons that had initiated a growth response after pyramidotomy in plasticity sensitized nogo receptor-1-null mice. Here, we show that Inpp5k overexpression can stimulate CST axon growth after pyramidotomy, stroke, and acute and chronic contusion injuries. These data support in vivo screening approaches to identify novel axon growth activators.
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Le Ray D, Guayasamin M. How Does the Central Nervous System for Posture and Locomotion Cope With Damage-Induced Neural Asymmetry? Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:828532. [PMID: 35308565 PMCID: PMC8927091 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.828532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In most vertebrates, posture and locomotion are achieved by a biomechanical apparatus whose effectors are symmetrically positioned around the main body axis. Logically, motor commands to these effectors are intrinsically adapted to such anatomical symmetry, and the underlying sensory-motor neural networks are correspondingly arranged during central nervous system (CNS) development. However, many developmental and/or life accidents may alter such neural organization and acutely generate asymmetries in motor operation that are often at least partially compensated for over time. First, we briefly present the basic sensory-motor organization of posturo-locomotor networks in vertebrates. Next, we review some aspects of neural plasticity that is implemented in response to unilateral central injury or asymmetrical sensory deprivation in order to substantially restore symmetry in the control of posturo-locomotor functions. Data are finally discussed in the context of CNS structure-function relationship.
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Tashiro S, Nakamura M, Okano H. Regenerative Rehabilitation and Stem Cell Therapy Targeting Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Review of Preclinical Studies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040685. [PMID: 35203335 PMCID: PMC8870591 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell medicine has led to functional recovery in the acute-to-subacute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), but not yet in the chronic phase, during which various molecular mechanisms drastically remodel the tissue and render it treatment-resistant. Researchers are attempting to identify effective combinatorial treatments that can overcome the refractory state of the chronically injured spinal cord. Regenerative rehabilitation, combinatorial treatment with regenerative medicine that aims to elicit synergistic effects, is being developed. Rehabilitation upon SCI in preclinical studies has recently attracted more attention because it is safe, induces neuronal plasticity involving transplanted stem cells and sensorimotor circuits, and is routinely implemented in human clinics. However, regenerative rehabilitation has not been extensively reviewed, and only a few reviews have focused on the use of physical medicine modalities for rehabilitative purposes, which might be more important in the chronic phase. Here, we summarize regenerative rehabilitation studies according to the effector, site, and mechanism. Specifically, we describe effects on transplanted cells, microstructures at and distant from the lesion, and molecular changes. To establish a treatment regimen that induces robust functional recovery upon chronic SCI, further investigations are required of combinatorial treatments incorporating stem cell therapy, regenerative rehabilitation, and medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syoichi Tashiro
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka City, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (M.N.); (H.O.); Tel.: +81-3-5363-3833 (S.T.)
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (M.N.); (H.O.); Tel.: +81-3-5363-3833 (S.T.)
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (M.N.); (H.O.); Tel.: +81-3-5363-3833 (S.T.)
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12
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Samejima S, Ievins AM, Boissenin A, Tolley NM, Khorasani A, Mondello SE, Moritz CT. Automated lever task with minimum antigravity movement for rats with cervical spinal cord injury. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 366:109433. [PMID: 34863839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109433] [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: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although there is currently no cure for paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI), the highest treatment priority is restoring arm and hand function for people with cervical SCI. Preclinical animal models provide an opportunity to test innovative treatments, but severe cervical injury models require significant time and effort to assess responses to novel interventions. Moreover, there is no behavioral task that can assess forelimb movement in rats with severe cervical SCI unable to perform antigravity movements. NEW METHOD We developed a novel lever pressing task for rats with severe cervical SCI. We employed an automated adaptive algorithm to train animals using open-source software and commercially available hardware. We found that using the adaptive training required only 13.3 ± 2.5 training days to achieve behavioral proficiency. The lever press task could quantify immediate and long-term improvements in severely impaired forelimb function effectively. This behavior platform has potential to facilitate rehabilitative training and assess effects of therapeutic modalities following SCI. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS There is no existing assessment aiming to quantify forelimb extension movement in rodents without function against gravity. We found that the new lever press task in the antigravity position could assess the severity of cervical SCI as well as the compensatory movement in the proximal forelimb less affected by the injury. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the new behavioral task is capable of tracking the functional changes with various therapies in rats with severe forelimb impairments in a cost- and time-efficient manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soshi Samejima
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; UW Institute for Neural Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; The Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Aiva M Ievins
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Adrien Boissenin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicholas M Tolley
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Abed Khorasani
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sarah E Mondello
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chet T Moritz
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; UW Institute for Neural Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; The Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
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13
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Flores Á, López-Santos D, García-Alías G. When Spinal Neuromodulation Meets Sensorimotor Rehabilitation: Lessons Learned From Animal Models to Regain Manual Dexterity After a Spinal Cord Injury. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2021; 2:755963. [PMID: 36188826 PMCID: PMC9397786 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2021.755963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Electrical neuromodulation has strongly hit the foundations of spinal cord injury and repair. Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated the ability to neuromodulate and engage spinal cord circuits to recover volitional motor functions lost after the injury. Although the science and technology behind electrical neuromodulation has attracted much of the attention, it cannot be obviated that electrical stimulation must be applied concomitantly to sensorimotor rehabilitation, and one would be very difficult to understand without the other, as both need to be finely tuned to efficiently execute movements. The present review explores the difficulties faced by experimental and clinical neuroscientists when attempting to neuromodulate and rehabilitate manual dexterity in spinal cord injured subjects. From a translational point of view, we will describe the major rehabilitation interventions employed in animal research to promote recovery of forelimb motor function. On the other hand, we will outline some of the state-of-the-art findings when applying electrical neuromodulation to the spinal cord in animal models and human patients, highlighting how evidences from lumbar stimulation are paving the path to cervical neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- África Flores
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Diego López-Santos
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Guillermo García-Alías
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
- Institut Guttmann de Neurorehabilitació, Badalona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Guillermo García-Alías
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14
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Tashiro S, Tsuji O, Shinozaki M, Shibata T, Yoshida T, Tomioka Y, Unai K, Kondo T, Itakura G, Kobayashi Y, Yasuda A, Nori S, Fujiyoshi K, Nagoshi N, Kawakami M, Uemura O, Yamada S, Tsuji T, Okano H, Nakamura M. Current progress of rehabilitative strategies in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury: a review. NPJ Regen Med 2021; 6:81. [PMID: 34824291 PMCID: PMC8616941 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-021-00191-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-based regenerative therapy has opened an avenue for functional recovery of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Regenerative rehabilitation is attracting wide attention owing to its synergistic effects, feasibility, non-invasiveness, and diverse and systemic properties. In this review article, we summarize the features of rehabilitation, describe the mechanism of combinatorial treatment, and discuss regenerative rehabilitation in the context of SCI. Although conventional rehabilitative methods have commonly been implemented alone, especially in studies of acute-to-subacute SCI, the combinatorial effects of intensive and advanced methods, including various neurorehabilitative approaches, have also been reported. Separating the concept of combined rehabilitation from regenerative rehabilitation, we suggest that the main roles of regenerative rehabilitation can be categorized as conditioning/reconditioning, functional training, and physical exercise, all of which are indispensable for enhancing functional recovery achieved using stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syoichi Tashiro
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. .,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Osahiko Tsuji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Munehisa Shinozaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shibata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshida
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yohei Tomioka
- Department of Rehabilitation, Murayama Medical Center, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Unai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kondo
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Go Itakura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiomi Kobayashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Murayama Medical Center, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akimasa Yasuda
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic surgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nori
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kanehiro Fujiyoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Murayama Medical Center, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiyuki Kawakami
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Uemura
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Rehabilitation, Murayama Medical Center, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Yamada
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tsuji
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Baylo-Marín O, Flores Á, García-Alías G. Long-term rehabilitation reduces task error variability in cervical spinal cord contused rats. Exp Neurol 2021; 348:113928. [PMID: 34813841 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113928] [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] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To promote skilled forelimb function following a spinal cord injury, we have evaluated whether long-term voluntary sensorimotor rehabilitation can promote substantial reaching and grasping recovery. Long-Evans rats were trained to reach single pellets and then received a moderate 100 kdyn contusion to the C5 lateral funiculi. During the first eight months post-injury, a group of animals was enrolled in daily skilled reaching rehabilitation consisting of grabbing and manipulating seeds from the bottom of a grid. Single-pellet reaching and grasping recovery was tested biweekly throughout the functional follow-up and the recovery was compared to a second group of contused but non-rehabilitated animals. Following the injury, reaching and grasping success dropped to zero in both groups and remained absent for three months post-injury, followed by a slight recovery that remained constant until the end of the follow-up. No differences in reaching success were found between groups. Nevertheless, the type of gesture errors in the failed attempts were categorized and scored. The errors ranged from the animal's inability to lift the paw and initiate the movement to the final stage of the attempt, in which the pellet falls during grasping and retraction of the paw towards the mouth. Both groups of animals exhibited similar types of errors but the animals with rehabilitation showed less error variability and those that occurred at the latest stages of the attempt predominated compared to those performed by the non-trained animals. Histological examination of the injury showed that injury severity was similar between groups and that the damage was circumscribed to the site of impact, affecting mainly the dorsal and medial region of the lateral funiculi, with preservation of the dorsal component of the corticospinal tract and the interneurons and motoneurons of the spinal segments beyond the site of injury. The results indicate that activity-dependent plasticity driven by voluntary rehabilitation decreases task error variability and drives the recovery of the movement gestures. However, the plasticity achieved is insufficient to attain full functional recovery to successfully reach, grasp and release the pellets in the mouth, indicating the necessity for additional interventional therapies to promote repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaia Baylo-Marín
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology & Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - África Flores
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology & Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Guillermo García-Alías
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology & Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain; Institut Guttmann de Neurorehabilitació, Badalona, Spain.
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16
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A Time-Course Study of the Expression Level of Synaptic Plasticity-Associated Genes in Un-Lesioned Spinal Cord and Brain Areas in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury: A Bioinformatic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168606. [PMID: 34445312 PMCID: PMC8395345 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
"Neuroplasticity" is often evoked to explain adaptation and compensation after acute lesions of the Central Nervous System (CNS). In this study, we investigated the modification of 80 genes involved in synaptic plasticity at different times (24 h, 8 and 45 days) from the traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), adopting a bioinformatic analysis. mRNA expression levels were analyzed in the motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum and in the spinal segments rostral and caudal to the lesion. The main results are: (i) a different gene expression regulation is observed in the Spinal Cord (SC) segments rostral and caudal to the lesion; (ii) long lasting changes in the SC includes the extracellular matrix (ECM) enzymes Timp1, transcription regulators (Egr, Nr4a1), second messenger associated proteins (Gna1, Ywhaq); (iii) long-lasting changes in the Motor Cortex includes transcription regulators (Cebpd), neurotransmitters/neuromodulators and receptors (Cnr1, Gria1, Nos1), growth factors and related receptors (Igf1, Ntf3, Ntrk2), second messenger associated proteins (Mapk1); long lasting changes in Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum include ECM protein (Reln), growth factors (Ngf, Bdnf), transcription regulators (Egr, Cebpd), neurotransmitter receptors (Grin2c). These data suggest the molecular mapping as a useful tool to investigate the brain and SC reorganization after SCI.
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17
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Corticospinal Motor Circuit Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury: Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Improve Functional Outcomes. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5494-5516. [PMID: 34341881 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02484-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that affects approximately 294,000 people in the USA and several millions worldwide. The corticospinal motor circuitry plays a major role in controlling skilled movements and in planning and coordinating movements in mammals and can be damaged by SCI. While axonal regeneration of injured fibers over long distances is scarce in the adult CNS, substantial spontaneous neural reorganization and plasticity in the spared corticospinal motor circuitry has been shown in experimental SCI models, associated with functional recovery. Beneficially harnessing this neuroplasticity of the corticospinal motor circuitry represents a highly promising therapeutic approach for improving locomotor outcomes after SCI. Several different strategies have been used to date for this purpose including neuromodulation (spinal cord/brain stimulation strategies and brain-machine interfaces), rehabilitative training (targeting activity-dependent plasticity), stem cells and biological scaffolds, neuroregenerative/neuroprotective pharmacotherapies, and light-based therapies like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photobiomodulation (PMBT). This review provides an overview of the spontaneous reorganization and neuroplasticity in the corticospinal motor circuitry after SCI and summarizes the various therapeutic approaches used to beneficially harness this neuroplasticity for functional recovery after SCI in preclinical animal model and clinical human patients' studies.
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18
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Mah KM, Torres-Espín A, Hallworth BW, Bixby JL, Lemmon VP, Fouad K, Fenrich KK. Automation of training and testing motor and related tasks in pre-clinical behavioural and rehabilitative neuroscience. Exp Neurol 2021; 340:113647. [PMID: 33600814 PMCID: PMC10443427 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Testing and training animals in motor and related tasks is a cornerstone of pre-clinical behavioural and rehabilitative neuroscience. Yet manually testing and training animals in these tasks is time consuming and analyses are often subjective. Consequently, there have been many recent advances in automating both the administration and analyses of animal behavioural training and testing. This review is an in-depth appraisal of the history of, and recent developments in, the automation of animal behavioural assays used in neuroscience. We describe the use of common locomotor and non-locomotor tasks used for motor training and testing before and after nervous system injury. This includes a discussion of how these tasks help us to understand the underlying mechanisms of neurological repair and the utility of some tasks for the delivery of rehabilitative training to enhance recovery. We propose two general approaches to automation: automating the physical administration of behavioural tasks (i.e., devices used to facilitate task training, rehabilitative training, and motor testing) and leveraging the use of machine learning in behaviour analysis to generate large volumes of unbiased and comprehensive data. The advantages and disadvantages of automating various motor tasks as well as the limitations of machine learning analyses are examined. In closing, we provide a critical appraisal of the current state of automation in animal behavioural neuroscience and a prospective on some of the advances in machine learning we believe will dramatically enhance the usefulness of these approaches for behavioural neuroscientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kar Men Mah
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Abel Torres-Espín
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ben W Hallworth
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - John L Bixby
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Vance P Lemmon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Karim Fouad
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keith K Fenrich
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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19
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Bilchak JN, Caron G, Côté MP. Exercise-Induced Plasticity in Signaling Pathways Involved in Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094858. [PMID: 34064332 PMCID: PMC8124911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to numerous chronic and debilitating functional deficits that greatly affect quality of life. While many pharmacological interventions have been explored, the current unsurpassed therapy for most SCI sequalae is exercise. Exercise has an expansive influence on peripheral health and function, and by activating the relevant neural pathways, exercise also ameliorates numerous disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). While the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are still being delineated, major strides have been made in the past decade to understand the molecular underpinnings of this essential treatment. Exercise rapidly and prominently affects dendritic sprouting, synaptic connections, neurotransmitter production and regulation, and ionic homeostasis, with recent literature implicating an exercise-induced increase in neurotrophins as the cornerstone that binds many of these effects together. The field encompasses vast complexity, and as the data accumulate, disentangling these molecular pathways and how they interact will facilitate the optimization of intervention strategies and improve quality of life for individuals affected by SCI. This review describes the known molecular effects of exercise and how they alter the CNS to pacify the injury environment, increase neuronal survival and regeneration, restore normal neural excitability, create new functional circuits, and ultimately improve motor function following SCI.
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20
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Arnold BM, Toosi BM, Caine S, Mitchell GS, Muir GD. Prolonged acute intermittent hypoxia improves forelimb reach-to-grasp function in a rat model of chronic cervical spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2021; 340:113672. [PMID: 33652030 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH - brief, episodes of low inspired oxygen) elicits spinal motor plasticity, resulting in sustained improvements of respiratory and non-respiratory motor function in both animal models and humans with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously demonstrated that 7 days of AIH combined with task-specific training improves performance on a skilled locomotor task for at least 3 weeks post-treatment in rats with incomplete SCI. Here we investigated the effect of repetitive AIH administered for 12 wks on a forelimb reach-to-grasp task in a rat model of chronic, incomplete cervical SCI. In a replicated, sham-controlled, randomized and blinded study, male Spraque-Dawley rats were subject to partial hemisection at the 3rd cervical spinal segment, and exposed to daily AIH (10, 5 min episodes of 11% inspired O2; 5 min intervals of 21% O2) or sham normoxia (continuous 21% O2) for 7 days beginning 8 weeks post-injury. Treatments were then reduced to 4 daily treatments per week, and continued for 11 weeks. Performance on 2 pre-conditioned motor tasks, single pellet reaching and horizontal ladder walking, was recorded each week for up to 12 weeks after initiating treatment; performance on spontaneous adhesive removal was also tested. SCI significantly impaired reach-to-grasp task performance 8 weeks post-injury (pre-treatment). Daily AIH improved reaching success by the first week of treatment versus sham controls, and this difference was maintained at 12 weeks (p < 0.0001). Daily AIH did not affect step asymmetry or stride length during ladder walking or adhesive removal time. Thus, prolonged AIH combined with task-specific training improved forelimb reach-to-grasp function in rats with a chronic cervical hemisection, but not off-target motor tasks. This study further supports the idea that daily AIH improves limb function when combined with task-specific training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna M Arnold
- Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Behzad M Toosi
- Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Sally Caine
- Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
| | - Gordon S Mitchell
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, PO Box 100154, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Gillian D Muir
- Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
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21
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Brommer B, He M, Zhang Z, Yang Z, Page JC, Su J, Zhang Y, Zhu J, Gouy E, Tang J, Williams P, Dai W, Wang Q, Solinsky R, Chen B, He Z. Improving hindlimb locomotor function by Non-invasive AAV-mediated manipulations of propriospinal neurons in mice with complete spinal cord injury. Nat Commun 2021; 12:781. [PMID: 33536416 PMCID: PMC7859413 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20980-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
After complete spinal cord injuries (SCI), spinal segments below the lesion maintain inter-segmental communication via the intraspinal propriospinal network. However, it is unknown whether selective manipulation of these circuits can restore locomotor function in the absence of brain-derived inputs. By taking advantage of the compromised blood-spinal cord barrier following SCI, we optimized a set of procedures in which AAV9 vectors administered via the tail vein efficiently transduce neurons in lesion-adjacent spinal segments after a thoracic crush injury in adult mice. With this method, we used chemogenetic actuators to alter the excitability of propriospinal neurons in the thoracic cord of the adult mice with a complete thoracic crush injury. We showed that activating these thoracic neurons enables consistent and significant hindlimb stepping improvement, whereas direct manipulations of the neurons in the lumbar spinal cord led to muscle spasms without meaningful locomotion. Strikingly, manipulating either excitatory or inhibitory propriospinal neurons in the thoracic levels leads to distinct behavioural outcomes, with preferential effects on standing or stepping, two key elements of the locomotor function. These results demonstrate a strategy of engaging thoracic propriospinal neurons to improve hindlimb function and provide insights into optimizing neuromodulation-based strategies for treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Brommer
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miao He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Zicong Zhang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhiyun Yang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica C Page
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junfeng Su
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emilia Gouy
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Tang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Philip Williams
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Wei Dai
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Solinsky
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, & Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Zhigang He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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22
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Fenrich KK, Hallworth BW, Vavrek R, Raposo PJF, Misiaszek JE, Bennett DJ, Fouad K, Torres-Espin A. Self-directed rehabilitation training intensity thresholds for efficient recovery of skilled forelimb function in rats with cervical spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2020; 339:113543. [PMID: 33290776 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Task specific rehabilitation training is commonly used to treat motor dysfunction after neurological injures such as spinal cord injury (SCI), yet the use of task specific training in preclinical animal studies of SCI is not common. This is due in part to the difficulty in training animals to perform specific motor tasks, but also due to the lack of knowledge about optimal rehabilitation training parameters to maximize recovery. The single pellet reaching, grasping and retrieval (SPRGR) task (a.k.a. single pellet reaching task or Whishaw task) is a skilled forelimb motor task used to provide rehabilitation training and test motor recovery in rodents with cervical SCI. However, the relationships between the amount, duration, intensity, and timing of training remain poorly understood. In this study, using automated robots that allow rats with cervical SCI ad libitum access to self-directed SPRGR rehabilitation training, we show clear relationships between the total amount of rehabilitation training, the intensity of training (i.e., number of attempts/h), and performance in the task. Specifically, we found that rats naturally segregate into High and Low performance groups based on training strategy and performance in the task. Analysis of the different training strategies showed that more training (i.e., increased number of attempts in the SPRGR task throughout rehabilitation training) at higher intensities (i.e., number of attempts per hour) increased performance in the task, and that improved performance in the SPRGR task was linked to differences in corticospinal tract axon collateral densities in the injured spinal cords. Importantly, however, our data also indicate that rehabilitation training becomes progressively less efficient (i.e., less recovery for each attempt) as both the amount and intensity of rehabilitation training increases. Finally, we found that Low performing animals could increase their training intensity and transition to High performing animals in chronic SCI. These results highlight the rehabilitation training strategies that are most effective to regain skilled forelimb motor function after SCI, which will facilitate pre-clinical rehabilitation studies using animal models and could be beneficial in the development of more efficient clinical rehabilitation training strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith K Fenrich
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada.
| | - Ben W Hallworth
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Romana Vavrek
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Pamela J F Raposo
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - John E Misiaszek
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - David J Bennett
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Karim Fouad
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Abel Torres-Espin
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada; Brain and Spinal Injury Center (BASIC), Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco 94110, USA.
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23
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Fouad K, Ng C, Basso DM. Behavioral testing in animal models of spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2020; 333:113410. [PMID: 32735871 PMCID: PMC8325780 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
This review is based on a lecture presented at the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation sponsored Spinal Cord Injury Training Program at Ohio State University. We discuss the advantages and challenges of injury models in rodents and theory relation to various behavioral outcome measures. We offer strategies and advice on experimental design, behavioral testing, and on the challenges, one will encounter with animal testing. This review is designed to guide those entering the field of spinal cord injury and/or involved with in vivo animal testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Fouad
- University of Alberta, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dept of Physical Therapy, 3-48 Corbett Hall, Edmonton T6G 2G4, Canada; University of Alberta, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, 2-132 Li Ka Shing, Edmonton T6G 2E1, Canada.
| | - C Ng
- University of Alberta, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, 2-132 Li Ka Shing, Edmonton T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - D M Basso
- Ohio State University, College of Medicine, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 106A Atwell Hall, 453 W. 10th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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24
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Sun W, Larson MJ, Kiyoshi CM, Annett AJ, Stalker WA, Peng J, Tedeschi A. Gabapentinoid treatment promotes corticospinal plasticity and regeneration following murine spinal cord injury. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:345-358. [PMID: 31793909 DOI: 10.1172/jci130391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Axon regeneration failure causes neurological deficits and long-term disability after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we found that the α2δ2 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels negatively regulates axon growth and regeneration of corticospinal neurons, the cells that originate the corticospinal tract. Increased α2δ2 expression in corticospinal neurons contributed to loss of corticospinal regrowth ability during postnatal development and after SCI. In contrast, α2δ2 pharmacological blockade through gabapentin administration promoted corticospinal structural plasticity and regeneration in adulthood. Using an optogenetic strategy combined with in vivo electrophysiological recording, we demonstrated that regenerating corticospinal axons functionally integrate into spinal circuits. Mice administered gabapentin recovered upper extremity function after cervical SCI. Importantly, such recovery relies on reorganization of the corticospinal pathway, as chemogenetic silencing of injured corticospinal neurons transiently abrogated recovery. Thus, targeting α2δ2 with a clinically relevant treatment strategy aids repair of motor circuits after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center
| | | | | | | | | | - Juan Peng
- Center for Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, and
| | - Andrea Tedeschi
- Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center.,Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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25
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Gallegos C, Carey M, Zheng Y, He X, Cao QL. Reaching and Grasping Training Improves Functional Recovery After Chronic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:110. [PMID: 32536855 PMCID: PMC7266985 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest locomotion training could be an effective non-invasive therapy after spinal cord injury (SCI) using primarily acute thoracic injuries. However, the majority of SCI patients have chronic cervical injuries. Regaining hand function could significantly increase their quality of life. In this study, we used a clinically relevant chronic cervical contusion to study the therapeutic efficacy of rehabilitation in forelimb functional recovery. Nude rats received a moderate C5 unilateral contusive injury and were then divided into two groups with or without Modified Montoya Staircase (MMS) rehabilitation. For the rehabilitation group, rats were trained 5 days a week starting at 8 weeks post-injury (PI) for 6 weeks. All rats were assessed for skilled forelimb functions with MMS test weekly and for untrained gross forelimb locomotion with grooming and horizontal ladder (HL) tests biweekly. Our results showed that MMS rehabilitation significantly increased the number of pellets taken at 13 and 14 weeks PI and the accuracy rates at 12 to 14 weeks PI. However, there were no significant differences in the grooming scores or the percentage of HL missteps at any time point. Histological analyses revealed that MMS rehabilitation significantly increased the number of serotonergic fibers and the amount of presynaptic terminals around motor neurons in the cervical ventral horns caudal to the injury and reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive astrogliosis in spinal cords caudal to the lesion. This study shows that MMS rehabilitation can modify the injury environment, promote axonal sprouting and synaptic plasticity, and importantly, improve reaching and grasping functions in the forelimb, supporting the therapeutic potential of task-specific rehabilitation for functional recovery after chronic SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystine Gallegos
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Matthew Carey
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Summer Undergraduate Research Program, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yiyan Zheng
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xiuquan He
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qi Lin Cao
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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26
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Doperalski AE, Montgomery LR, Mondello SE, Howland DR. Anatomical Plasticity of Rostrally Terminating Axons as a Possible Bridging Substrate across a Spinal Injury. J Neurotrauma 2020; 37:877-888. [PMID: 31774025 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer of information across a spinal lesion is required for many aspects of recovery across diverse motor systems. Our understanding of axonal plasticity and which subpopulations of neurons may contribute to bridging substrates following injury, however, remains relatively incomplete. Most recently, attention has been directed to propriospinal neurons (PSNs), with research suggesting that they are capable of bridging a spinal lesion in rodents. In the current study, subpopulations of both long (C5) and short (T6, T8) PSNs-as well as a supraspinal system, the rubrospinal tract (RST)-were assessed following low thoracic (T9) hemisection in the cat using the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold. Acutely, within 2 weeks post-hemisection, the numbers of short and long PSNs, as well as contralateral RST neurons, with axons crossing the lesion were significantly decreased relative to uninjured controls. This decrease persisted bilaterally and was permanent in the long PSNs and the contralateral red nucleus (RN). However, by 16 weeks post-hemisection, the numbers of ipsilesional and contralesional short PSNs bridging the lesion were significantly increased. Further, the number of contralesional contributing short PSNs was significantly greater in injured animals than in uninjured animals. A significant increase over uninjured numbers also was seen in the ipsilateral (non-axotomized) RN. These findings suggest that a novel substrate of undamaged axons, which normally terminates rostral to the lesion, grows past a thoracic lesion after injury. This rostral population represents a major component of the bridging substrate seen and may represent an important anatomical target for evolving rehabilitation approaches as a substrate capable of contributing to functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele E Doperalski
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington DC.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Lynnette R Montgomery
- Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Sarah E Mondello
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Dena R Howland
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida.,Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.,Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, Kentucky
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27
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Singh T, Robles D, Vazquez M. Neuronal substrates alter the migratory responses of nonmyelinating Schwann cells to controlled brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gradients. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 14:609-621. [DOI: 10.1002/term.3025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Singh
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCity College of New York New York NY USA
| | - Denise Robles
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringRutgers University, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Maribel Vazquez
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringRutgers University, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
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28
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Laliberte AM, Goltash S, Lalonde NR, Bui TV. Propriospinal Neurons: Essential Elements of Locomotor Control in the Intact and Possibly the Injured Spinal Cord. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:512. [PMID: 31798419 PMCID: PMC6874159 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Propriospinal interneurons (INs) communicate information over short and long distances within the spinal cord. They act to coordinate different parts of the body by linking motor circuits that control muscles across the forelimbs, trunk, and hindlimbs. Their role in coordinating locomotor circuits near and far may be invaluable to the recovery of locomotor function lost due to injury to the spinal cord where the flow of motor commands from the brain and brainstem to spinal motor circuits is disrupted. The formation and activation of circuits established by spared propriospinal INs may promote the re-emergence of locomotion. In light of progress made in animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI) and in human patients, we discuss the role of propriospinal INs in the intact spinal cord and describe recent studies investigating the assembly and/or activation of propriospinal circuits to promote recovery of locomotion following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex M Laliberte
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Goltash
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nicolas R Lalonde
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tuan Vu Bui
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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29
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Ryait H, Bermudez-Contreras E, Harvey M, Faraji J, Mirza Agha B, Gomez-Palacio Schjetnan A, Gruber A, Doan J, Mohajerani M, Metz GAS, Whishaw IQ, Luczak A. Data-driven analyses of motor impairments in animal models of neurological disorders. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000516. [PMID: 31751328 PMCID: PMC6871764 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavior provides important insights into neuronal processes. For example, analysis of reaching movements can give a reliable indication of the degree of impairment in neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson disease, or Huntington disease. The analysis of such movement abnormalities is notoriously difficult and requires a trained evaluator. Here, we show that a deep neural network is able to score behavioral impairments with expert accuracy in rodent models of stroke. The same network was also trained to successfully score movements in a variety of other behavioral tasks. The neural network also uncovered novel movement alterations related to stroke, which had higher predictive power of stroke volume than the movement components defined by human experts. Moreover, when the regression network was trained only on categorical information (control = 0; stroke = 1), it generated predictions with intermediate values between 0 and 1 that matched the human expert scores of stroke severity. The network thus offers a new data-driven approach to automatically derive ratings of motor impairments. Altogether, this network can provide a reliable neurological assessment and can assist the design of behavioral indices to diagnose and monitor neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardeep Ryait
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Edgar Bermudez-Contreras
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew Harvey
- Coastline Automation, San Jose, California, United States of America
| | - Jamshid Faraji
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Behroo Mirza Agha
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Aaron Gruber
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jon Doan
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Majid Mohajerani
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gerlinde A. S. Metz
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ian Q. Whishaw
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Artur Luczak
- Canadian Center for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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30
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Duncan GJ, Manesh SB, Hilton BJ, Assinck P, Plemel JR, Tetzlaff W. The fate and function of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells after traumatic spinal cord injury. Glia 2019; 68:227-245. [PMID: 31433109 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are the most proliferative and dispersed population of progenitor cells in the adult central nervous system, which allows these cells to rapidly respond to damage. Oligodendrocytes and myelin are lost after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), compromising efficient conduction and, potentially, the long-term health of axons. In response, OPCs proliferate and then differentiate into new oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells to remyelinate axons. This culminates in highly efficient remyelination following experimental SCI in which nearly all intact demyelinated axons are remyelinated in rodent models. However, myelin regeneration comprises only one role of OPCs following SCI. OPCs contribute to scar formation after SCI and restrict the regeneration of injured axons. Moreover, OPCs alter their gene expression following demyelination, express cytokines and perpetuate the immune response. Here, we review the functional contribution of myelin regeneration and other recently uncovered roles of OPCs and their progeny to repair following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg J Duncan
- Department of Neurology, Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sohrab B Manesh
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brett J Hilton
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Peggy Assinck
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jason R Plemel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wolfram Tetzlaff
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Departments of Zoology and Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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31
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Cho N, Squair JW, Bloch J, Courtine G. Neurorestorative interventions involving bioelectronic implants after spinal cord injury. Bioelectron Med 2019; 5:10. [PMID: 32232100 PMCID: PMC7098222 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-019-0027-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of approved treatments to repair damage to the central nervous system, the role of neurosurgeons after spinal cord injury (SCI) often remains confined to spinal cord decompression and vertebral fracture stabilization. However, recent advances in bioelectronic medicine are changing this landscape. Multiple neuromodulation therapies that target circuits located in the brain, midbrain, or spinal cord have been able to improve motor and autonomic functions. The spectrum of implantable brain-computer interface technologies is also expanding at a fast pace, and all these neurotechnologies are being progressively embedded within rehabilitation programs in order to augment plasticity of spared circuits and residual projections with training. Here, we summarize the impending arrival of bioelectronic medicine in the field of SCI. We also discuss the new role of functional neurosurgeons in neurorestorative interventional medicine, a new discipline at the intersection of neurosurgery, neuro-engineering, and neurorehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Newton Cho
- École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, 1202 Genève, Switzerland.,2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Jordan W Squair
- École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, 1202 Genève, Switzerland.,3Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,4MD/PhD Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jocelyne Bloch
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,6Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies, EPFL / CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Courtine
- École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, 1202 Genève, Switzerland.,5Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,6Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies, EPFL / CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland
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32
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Courtine G, Sofroniew MV. Spinal cord repair: advances in biology and technology. Nat Med 2019; 25:898-908. [PMID: 31160817 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0475-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) can face decades with permanent disabilities. Advances in clinical management have decreased morbidity and improved outcomes, but no randomized clinical trial has demonstrated the efficacy of a repair strategy for improving recovery from SCI. Here, we summarize recent advances in biological and engineering strategies to augment neuroplasticity and/or functional recovery in animal models of SCI that are pushing toward clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Courtine
- Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland. .,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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