1
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Michel-Flutot P, Cheng L, Thomas SJ, Lisi B, Schwartz H, Lam S, Lyttle M, Jaffe DA, Smith G, Li S, Wright MC, Lepore AC. PTEN inhibition promotes robust growth of bulbospinal respiratory axons and partial recovery of diaphragm function in a chronic model of cervical contusion spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2024; 378:114816. [PMID: 38789023 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
High spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to persistent and debilitating compromise in respiratory function. Cervical SCI not only causes the death of phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs) that innervate the diaphragm, but also damages descending respiratory pathways originating in the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) located in the brainstem, resulting in denervation and consequent silencing of spared PhMNs located caudal to injury. It is imperative to determine whether interventions targeting rVRG axon growth and respiratory neural circuit reconnection are efficacious in chronic cervical contusion SCI, given that the vast majority of individuals are chronically-injured and most cases of SCI involve contusion-type damage to the cervical region. We therefore employed a rat model of chronic cervical hemicontusion to test therapeutic manipulations aimed at reconstructing damaged rVRG-PhMN-diaphragm circuitry to achieve recovery of respiratory function. At a chronic time point post-injury, we systemically administered: an antagonist peptide directed against phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a central inhibitor of neuron-intrinsic axon growth potential; an antagonist peptide directed against receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), another important negative regulator of axon growth capacity; or a combination of these two peptides. PTEN antagonist peptide (PAP4) promoted partial recovery of diaphragm motor activity out to nine months post-injury (though this effect depended on the anesthetic regimen used during recording), while PTPσ peptide did not impact diaphragm function after cervical SCI. Furthermore, PAP4 promoted robust growth of descending bulbospinal rVRG axons caudal to the injury within the denervated portion of the PhMN pool, while PTPσ peptide did not affect rVRG axon growth at this location that is critical to control of diaphragmatic respiratory function. In conclusion, we find that, when PTEN inhibition is targeted at a chronic time point following cervical contusion, our non-invasive PAP4 strategy can successfully promote significant regrowth of damaged respiratory neural circuitry and also partial recovery of diaphragm motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Michel-Flutot
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Lan Cheng
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Samantha J Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Brianna Lisi
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Harrison Schwartz
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Sandy Lam
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Megan Lyttle
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - David A Jaffe
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - George Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 191405104, USA
| | - Shuxin Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 191405104, USA
| | - Megan C Wright
- Department of Biology, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA 19038, USA
| | - Angelo C Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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2
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Hingorani S, Paniagua Soriano G, Sánchez Huertas C, Villalba Riquelme EM, López Mocholi E, Martínez Rojas B, Alastrué Agudo A, Dupraz S, Ferrer Montiel AV, Moreno Manzano V. Transplantation of dorsal root ganglia overexpressing the NaChBac sodium channel improves locomotion after complete SCI. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1739-1759. [PMID: 38556794 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition currently lacking treatment. Severe SCI causes the loss of most supraspinal inputs and neuronal activity caudal to the injury, which, coupled with the limited endogenous capacity for spontaneous regeneration, can lead to complete functional loss even in anatomically incomplete lesions. We hypothesized that transplantation of mature dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) genetically modified to express the NaChBac sodium channel could serve as a therapeutic option for functionally complete SCI. We found that NaChBac expression increased the intrinsic excitability of DRG neurons and promoted cell survival and neurotrophic factor secretion in vitro. Transplantation of NaChBac-expressing dissociated DRGs improved voluntary locomotion 7 weeks after injury compared to control groups. Animals transplanted with NaChBac-expressing DRGs also possessed higher tubulin-positive neuronal fiber and myelin preservation, although serotonergic descending fibers remained unaffected. We observed early preservation of the corticospinal tract 14 days after injury and transplantation, which was lost 7 weeks after injury. Nevertheless, transplantation of NaChBac-expressing DRGs increased the neuronal excitatory input by an increased number of VGLUT2 contacts immediately caudal to the injury. Our work suggests that the transplantation of NaChBac-expressing dissociated DRGs can rescue significant motor function, retaining an excitatory neuronal relay activity immediately caudal to injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Hingorani
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Guillem Paniagua Soriano
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Carlos Sánchez Huertas
- Development and Assembly of Bilateral Neural Circuits Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avenida Santiago Ramon y Cajal, s/n, 03550 Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Eva María Villalba Riquelme
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Instituto de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación en Biotecnología Sanitaria de Elche-IDiBE, Avenida de la Universidad, s/n, Edificio Torregaitán, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Eric López Mocholi
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martínez Rojas
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Alastrué Agudo
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sebastián Dupraz
- Laboratory for Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Antonio Vicente Ferrer Montiel
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Instituto de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación en Biotecnología Sanitaria de Elche-IDiBE, Avenida de la Universidad, s/n, Edificio Torregaitán, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Victoria Moreno Manzano
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain.
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You Z, Gao X, Kang X, Yang W, Xiong T, Li Y, Wei F, Zhuang Y, Zhang T, Sun Y, Shen H, Dai J. Microvascular endothelial cells derived from spinal cord promote spinal cord injury repair. Bioact Mater 2023; 29:36-49. [PMID: 37621772 PMCID: PMC10444976 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.06.019] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) closely relates to the microvascular endothelial cell (MEC)-mediated neurovascular unit formation. However, the effects of central nerve system-derived MECs on neovascularization and neurogenesis, and potential signaling involved therein, are unclear. Here, we established a primary spinal cord-derived MECs (SCMECs) isolation with high cell yield and purity to describe the differences with brain-derived MECs (BMECs) and their therapeutic effects on SCI. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed differentially expressed genes and proteins in SCMECs were involved in angiogenesis, immunity, metabolism, and cell adhesion molecular signaling was the only signaling pathway enriched of top 10 in differentially expressed genes and proteins KEGG analysis. SCMECs and BMECs could be induced angiogenesis by different stiffness stimulation of PEG hydrogels with elastic modulus 50-1650 Pa for SCMECs and 50-300 Pa for BMECs, respectively. Moreover, SCMECs and BMECs promoted spinal cord or brain-derived NSC (SNSC/BNSC) proliferation, migration, and differentiation at different levels. At certain dose, SCMECs in combination with the NeuroRegen scaffold, showed higher effectiveness in the promotion of vascular reconstruction. The potential underlying mechanism of this phenomenon may through VEGF/AKT/eNOS- signaling pathway, and consequently accelerated neuronal regeneration and functional recovery of SCI rats compared to BMECs. Our findings suggested a promising role of SCMECs in restoring vascularization and neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng You
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xu Gao
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Xinyi Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Tiandi Xiong
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yue Li
- i-Lab, Key Laboratory of Multifunction Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Feng Wei
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yan Zhuang
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- i-Lab, Key Laboratory of Multifunction Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yifu Sun
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - He Shen
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jianwu Dai
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Starr CR, Gorbatyuk MS. Comparative Proteomic Study of Retinal Ganglion Cells Undergoing Various Types of Cellular Stressors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.06.561236. [PMID: 37873477 PMCID: PMC10592614 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.06.561236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage serves as a key indicator of various retinal degenerative diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, retinal arterial and retinal vein occlusions, as well as inflammatory and traumatic optic neuropathies. Despite the growing body of data on the RGC proteomics associated with these conditions, there has been no dedicated study conducted to compare the molecular signaling pathways involved in the mechanism of neuronal cell death. Therefore, we launched the study using two different insults leading to RGC death: glutamate excitotoxicity and optic nerve crush (ONC). C57BL/6 mice were used for the study and underwent NMDA- and ONC-induced damages. Twenty-four hours after ONC and 1 hour after NMDA injection, we collected RGCs using CD90.2 coupled magnetic beads, prepared protein extracts, and employed LC-MS for the global proteomic analysis of RGCs. Statistically significant changes in proteins were analyzed using the Shiny Go program to identify GO biological processes and molecular functions resulting from the treatment. We identified unique and common alterations in protein profiles in RGCs undergoing different types of cellular stressors. Additionally, we observed the absence of certain proteins in treated RGCs compared to the control group. Our study not only identified both unique and shared proteomic changes but also laid the groundwork for the future development of a therapeutic platform for testing gene candidates for DR and glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Starr
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 35233
| | - Marina S. Gorbatyuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 35233
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5
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Wang Y, Luo H, Liu Y, Yang C, Yin Y, Tan B. Multimodal rehabilitation promotes axonal sprouting and functional recovery in a murine model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Neurosci Lett 2023; 795:137029. [PMID: 36566832 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.137029] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological disorder affecting millions of people worldwide, resulting in severe and permanent disabilities that significantly impact the individual's life. Rehabilitation is a commonly accepted and effective clinical treatment modality for neurological disabilities. A single form of rehabilitation training is, however, limited. Indeed, recent studies have reported that a combination of various training strategies may be more promising in promoting functional recovery. However, few studies have focused on combining different forms of rehabilitative training. Here, we investigated the effect of combining treadmill training and single pellet grasping in a well-established model of murine SCI to assess whether combining rehabilitation approaches improve outcomes. In brief, one week following crush SCI, mice were subjected to the treadmill and single pellet grasping training (SPG) for a period of six weeks. Biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was used to anterogradely trace corticospinal tract axons to assess functionally relevant axonal sprouting. Our results revealed that the combined training upregulated p-S6 expression, facilitated axonal sprouting, increased the formation of functional synaptic connections, and promoted functional recovery of the upper limb. Our study provides experimental evidence for the benefit of combining multiple modalities of rehabilitative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhang Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
| | - Haodong Luo
- 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 Special War Wound, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Ce Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Department of Special War Wound, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Ying Yin
- 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.
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6
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Downregulation of UBE4B promotes CNS axon regrowth and functional recovery after stroke. iScience 2022; 26:105885. [PMID: 36654858 PMCID: PMC9840934 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The limited intrinsic regrowth capacity of corticospinal axons impedes functional recovery after cortical stroke. Although the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p53 pathways have been identified as the key intrinsic pathways regulating CNS axon regrowth, little is known about the key upstream regulatory mechanism by which these two major pathways control CNS axon regrowth. By screening genes that regulate ubiquitin-mediated degradation of the p53 proteins in mice, we found that ubiquitination factor E4B (UBE4B) represses axonal regrowth in retinal ganglion cells and corticospinal neurons. We found that axonal regrowth induced by UBE4B depletion depended on the cooperative activation of p53 and mTOR. Importantly, overexpression of UbV.E4B, a competitive inhibitor of UBE4B, in corticospinal neurons promoted corticospinal axon sprouting and facilitated the recovery of corticospinal axon-dependent function in a cortical stroke model. Thus, our findings provide a translatable strategy for restoring corticospinal tract-dependent functions after cortical stroke.
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Mech D, Korgol K, Kurowska A, Adamski B, Miazga M, Biala G, Kruk-Slomka M. Promising Advances in Pharmacotherapy for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury-A Review of Studies Performed In Vivo with Modern Drugs. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226685. [PMID: 36431161 PMCID: PMC9698573 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a pathological neurological condition that leads to significant motor dysfunction. It is a condition that occurs as a result of tragic accidents, violent acts, or as a consequence of chronic diseases or degenerative changes. The current treatments for patients with SCI have moderate efficacy. They improve the quality of life of patients, but they are still doomed to long-term disability. In response to the modern directions of research on possible therapeutic methods that allow for the recovery of patients with SCI, a scientific review publication is needed to summarize the recent developments in this topic. The following review is focused on the available pharmacological treatments for SCIs and the problems that patients face depending on the location of the injury. In the following review, the research team describes problems related to spasticity and neuropathic pain; possible therapeutic pathways are also described for neuroprotection and the improvement of neurotransmission within the injured spinal cord, and the review focuses on issues related to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Mech
- Student Clubs and Organizations, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Korgol
- Student Clubs and Organizations, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1 Street, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Antonina Kurowska
- Student Clubs and Organizations, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Bartlomiej Adamski
- Student Clubs and Organizations, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Miazga
- Student Clubs and Organizations, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1 Street, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Grazyna Biala
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marta Kruk-Slomka
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-8-1448-7258; Fax: +48-8-1448-7252
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Costa G, Ribeiro FF, Sebastião AM, Muir EM, Vaz SH. Bridging the gap of axonal regeneration in the central nervous system: A state of the art review on central axonal regeneration. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1003145. [PMID: 36440273 PMCID: PMC9682039 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1003145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is an important field of research with relevance to all types of neuronal injuries, including neurodegenerative diseases. The glial scar is a result of the astrocyte response to CNS injury. It is made up of many components creating a complex environment in which astrocytes play various key roles. The glial scar is heterogeneous, diverse and its composition depends upon the injury type and location. The heterogeneity of the glial scar observed in different situations of CNS damage and the consequent implications for axon regeneration have not been reviewed in depth. The gap in this knowledge will be addressed in this review which will also focus on our current understanding of central axonal regeneration and the molecular mechanisms involved. The multifactorial context of CNS regeneration is discussed, and we review newly identified roles for components previously thought to solely play an inhibitory role in central regeneration: astrocytes and p75NTR and discuss their potential and relevance for deciding therapeutic interventions. The article ends with a comprehensive review of promising new therapeutic targets identified for axonal regeneration in CNS and a discussion of novel ways of looking at therapeutic interventions for several brain diseases and injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Costa
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa F. Ribeiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana M. Sebastião
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elizabeth M. Muir
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra H. Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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9
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Noristani HN. Intrinsic regulation of axon regeneration after spinal cord injury: Recent advances and remaining challenges. Exp Neurol 2022; 357:114198. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Li MX, Weng JW, Ho ES, Chow SF, Tsang CK. Brain delivering RNA-based therapeutic strategies by targeting mTOR pathway for axon regeneration after central nervous system injury. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2157-2165. [PMID: 35259823 PMCID: PMC9083176 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.335830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) such as stroke, brain, and spinal cord trauma often result in permanent disabilities because adult CNS neurons only exhibit limited axon regeneration. The brain has a surprising intrinsic capability of recovering itself after injury. However, the hostile extrinsic microenvironment significantly hinders axon regeneration. Recent advances have indicated that the inactivation of intrinsic regenerative pathways plays a pivotal role in the failure of most adult CNS neuronal regeneration. Particularly, substantial evidence has convincingly demonstrated that the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is one of the most crucial intrinsic regenerative pathways that drive axonal regeneration and sprouting in various CNS injuries. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings and highlight the critical roles of mTOR pathway in axon regeneration in different types of CNS injury. Importantly, we will demonstrate that the reactivation of this regenerative pathway can be achieved by blocking the key mTOR signaling components such as phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Given that multiple mTOR signaling components are endogenous inhibitory factors of this pathway, we will discuss the promising potential of RNA-based therapeutics which are particularly suitable for this purpose, and the fact that they have attracted substantial attention recently after the success of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. To specifically tackle the blood-brain barrier issue, we will review the current technology to deliver these RNA therapeutics into the brain with a focus on nanoparticle technology. We will propose the clinical application of these RNA-mediated therapies in combination with the brain-targeted drug delivery approach against mTOR signaling components as an effective and feasible therapeutic strategy aiming to enhance axonal regeneration for functional recovery after CNS injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Xi Li
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing-Wen Weng
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Eric S Ho
- Department of Biology and Department of Computer Science, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, USA
| | - Shing Fung Chow
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Chi Kwan Tsang
- Clinical Neuroscience Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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11
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Aldskogius H, Kozlova EN. Dorsal Root Injury-A Model for Exploring Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Strategies in Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2021; 10:2185. [PMID: 34571835 PMCID: PMC8470715 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury is fundamental for our possibility to develop successful therapeutic approaches. These approaches need to address the issues of the emergence of a non-permissive environment for axonal growth in the spinal cord, in combination with a failure of injured neurons to mount an effective regeneration program. Experimental in vivo models are of critical importance for exploring the potential clinical relevance of mechanistic findings and therapeutic innovations. However, the highly complex organization of the spinal cord, comprising multiple types of neurons, which form local neural networks, as well as short and long-ranging ascending or descending pathways, complicates detailed dissection of mechanistic processes, as well as identification/verification of therapeutic targets. Inducing different types of dorsal root injury at specific proximo-distal locations provide opportunities to distinguish key components underlying spinal cord regeneration failure. Crushing or cutting the dorsal root allows detailed analysis of the regeneration program of the sensory neurons, as well as of the glial response at the dorsal root-spinal cord interface without direct trauma to the spinal cord. At the same time, a lesion at this interface creates a localized injury of the spinal cord itself, but with an initial neuronal injury affecting only the axons of dorsal root ganglion neurons, and still a glial cell response closely resembling the one seen after direct spinal cord injury. In this review, we provide examples of previous research on dorsal root injury models and how these models can help future exploration of mechanisms and potential therapies for spinal cord injury repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkan Aldskogius
- Laboratory of Regenertive Neurobiology, Biomedical Center, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden;
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Exosomes Derived from Nerve Stem Cells Loaded with FTY720 Promote the Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats by PTEN/AKT Signal Pathway. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:8100298. [PMID: 34337080 PMCID: PMC8294984 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8100298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a challenge owing to limited therapies. The exosome of neural stem cells (NSCs-Exos) and FTY720 transplantation could improve SCI effectively. However, the effect and mechanism of NSCs-Exos combined with FTY720 (FTY720-NSCs-Exos) transplantation in the treatment of SCI are not fully understood. Methods Sprague Dawley rats (8-week-old) were used to establish the SCI model, followed by the treatment of NSCs-Exos, FTY720, and FTY720-NSCs-Exos. The effect of FTY720, NSCs-Exos, and FTY720-NSCs-Exos combination treatment on hindlimb function, pathological changes, apoptosis activity, and the expression of spinal edema-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins in SCI models were investigated by BBB scoring, HE staining, TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Meanwhile, the effect of these treatments on spinal cord microvascular endothelial cells (SCMECs) was detected under hypoxic circumstance. Results Our results found that FTY720-NSCs-Exos could alleviate pathological alterations and ameliorate the hindlimb function and oxygen insufficiency in model mice after SCI. In addition, exosomes could ameliorate the morphology of neurons, reduce inflammatory infiltration and edema, decrease the expression of Bax and AQP-4, upregulate the expression of claudin-5 and Bcl-2, and inhibit cell apoptosis. At the same time, in vitro experiments showed that FTY720-NSCs-Exos could protect the barrier of SCMECs under hypoxic circumstance, and the mechanism is related to PTEN/AKT pathway. Conclusion FTY720-NSCs-Exos therapy displayed a positive therapeutic effect on SCI by regulating PTEN/AKT pathway and offered a new therapy for SCI.
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