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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 PMCID: PMC11200215 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] [Grants] [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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Witkin JM, Radin DP, Rana S, Fuller DD, Fusco AF, Demers JC, Pradeep Thakre P, Smith JL, Lippa A, Cerne R. AMPA receptors play an important role in the biological consequences of spinal cord injury: Implications for AMPA receptor modulators for therapeutic benefit. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116302. [PMID: 38763261 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116302] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) afflicts millions of individuals globally. There are few therapies available to patients. Ascending and descending excitatory glutamatergic neural circuits in the central nervous system are disrupted by SCI, making α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) a potential therapeutic drug target. Emerging research in preclinical models highlights the involvement of AMPARs in vital processes following SCI including breathing, pain, inflammation, bladder control, and motor function. However, there are no clinical trial data reported in this patient population to date. No work on the role of AMPA receptors in sexual dysfunction after SCI has been disclosed. Compounds with selective antagonist and potentiating effects on AMPA receptors have benefit in animal models of SCI, with antagonists generally showing protective effects early after injury and potentiators (ampakines) producing improved breathing and bladder function. The role of AMPARs in pathophysiology and recovery after SCI depends upon the time post injury, and the timing of AMPAR augmentation or antagonism. The roles of inflammation, synaptic plasticity, sensitization, neurotrophic factors, and neuroprotection are considered in this context. The data summarized and discussed in this paper document proof of principle and strongly encourage additional studies on AMPARs as novel gateways to therapeutic benefit for patients suffering from SCI. The availability of both AMPAR antagonists such as perampanel and AMPAR allosteric modulators (i.e., ampakines) such as CX1739, that have been safely administered to humans, provides an expedited means of clinical inquiry for possible therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Departments of Neuroscience and Trauma Research, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA; RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA.
| | | | - Sabhya Rana
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David D Fuller
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Anna F Fusco
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julie C Demers
- Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Prajwal Pradeep Thakre
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jodi L Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Arnold Lippa
- RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA
| | - Rok Cerne
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA; RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška Cesta 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Hosseini SM, Borys B, Karimi-Abdolrezaee S. Neural stem cell therapies for spinal cord injury repair: an update on recent preclinical and clinical advances. Brain 2024; 147:766-793. [PMID: 37975820 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of lifelong disabilities. Permanent sensory, motor and autonomic impairments after SCI are substantially attributed to degeneration of spinal cord neurons and axons, and disintegration of neural network. To date, minimal regenerative treatments are available for SCI with an unmet need for new therapies to reconstruct the damaged spinal cord neuron-glia network and restore connectivity with the supraspinal pathways. Multipotent neural precursor cells (NPCs) have a unique capacity to generate neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Due to this capacity, NPCs have been an attractive cell source for cellular therapies for SCI. Transplantation of NPCs has been extensively tested in preclinical models of SCI in the past two decades. These studies have identified opportunities and challenges associated with NPC therapies. While NPCs have the potential to promote neuroregeneration through various mechanisms, their low long-term survival and integration within the host injured spinal cord limit the functional benefits of NPC-based therapies for SCI. To address this challenge, combinatorial strategies have been developed to optimize the outcomes of NPC therapies by enriching SCI microenvironment through biomaterials, genetic and pharmacological therapies. In this review, we will provide an in-depth discussion on recent advances in preclinical NPC-based therapies for SCI. We will discuss modes of actions and mechanism by which engrafted NPCs contribute to the repair process and functional recovery. We will also provide an update on current clinical trials and new technologies that have facilitated preparation of medical-grade human NPCs suitable for transplantation in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Ben Borys
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Soheila Karimi-Abdolrezaee
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Spinal Cord Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
- Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
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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. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.10.575021. [PMID: 38260313 PMCID: PMC10802567 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.575021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
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 clinically-relevant 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, 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 that is most relevant to the SCI clinical population, our non-invasive PAP4 strategy can successfully promote significant regrowth of damaged respiratory neural circuitry and also partial recovery of diaphragm motor function. HIGHLIGHTS PTEN antagonist peptide promotes partial diaphragm function recovery in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTPσ inhibitory peptide does not impact diaphragm function recovery in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTEN antagonist peptide promotes growth of bulbospinal rVRG axons in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTPσ peptide does not affect rVRG axon growth in chronic cervical contusion SCI.
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5
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Tian T, Zhang S, Yang M. Recent progress and challenges in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Protein Cell 2023; 14:635-652. [PMID: 36856750 PMCID: PMC10501188 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad003] [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: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts the structural and functional connectivity between the higher center and the spinal cord, resulting in severe motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction with a variety of complications. The pathophysiology of SCI is complicated and multifaceted, and thus individual treatments acting on a specific aspect or process are inadequate to elicit neuronal regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. Combinatory strategies targeting multiple aspects of SCI pathology have achieved greater beneficial effects than individual therapy alone. Although many problems and challenges remain, the encouraging outcomes that have been achieved in preclinical models offer a promising foothold for the development of novel clinical strategies to treat SCI. In this review, we characterize the mechanisms underlying axon regeneration of adult neurons and summarize recent advances in facilitating functional recovery following SCI at both the acute and chronic stages. In addition, we analyze the current status, remaining problems, and realistic challenges towards clinical translation. Finally, we consider the future of SCI treatment and provide insights into how to narrow the translational gap that currently exists between preclinical studies and clinical practice. Going forward, clinical trials should emphasize multidisciplinary conversation and cooperation to identify optimal combinatorial approaches to maximize therapeutic benefit in humans with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Sensen Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Maojun Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Cryo-EM Facility Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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6
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Benítez-Temiño B, Hernández RG, de la Cruz RR, Pastor AM. BDNF Influence on Adult Terminal Axon Sprouting after Partial Deafferentation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10660. [PMID: 37445838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BDNF is a neurotrophin family member implicated in many different neuronal functions, from neuronal survival during development to synaptic plasticity associated with processes of learning and memory. Its presence in the oculomotor system has previously been demonstrated, as it regulates afferent composition of extraocular motoneurons and their firing pattern. Moreover, BDNF expression increases after extraocular motoneuron partial deafferentation, in parallel with terminal axon sprouting from the remaining axons. To elucidate whether BDNF could play an active role in this process, we performed partial deafferentation of the medial rectus motoneurons through transection of one of the two main afferents, that is, the ascending tract of Deiters, and injected BDNF into the motoneuron target muscle, the medial rectus. Furthermore, to check whether BDNF could stimulate axon sprouting without lesions, we performed the same experiment without any lesions. Axon terminal sprouting was assessed by calretinin immunostaining, which specifically labels the remaining afferent system on medial rectus motoneurons, the abducens internuclear neurons. The results presented herein show that exogenous BDNF stimulated terminal axon growth, allowing the total recovery of synaptic coverage around the motoneuron somata. Moreover, calretinin staining in the neuropil exceeded that present in the control situation. Thus, BDNF could also stimulate axonal sprouting in the neuropil of intact animals. These results point to an active role of BDNF in plastic adaptations that take place after partial deafferentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Benítez-Temiño
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Rosendo G Hernández
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Rosa R de la Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Angel M Pastor
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
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Michel-Flutot P, Lane MA, Lepore AC, Vinit S. Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Respiratory Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury: From Preclinical Development to Clinical Translation. Cells 2023; 12:1519. [PMID: 37296640 PMCID: PMC10252981 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111519] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
High spinal cord injuries (SCIs) lead to permanent functional deficits, including respiratory dysfunction. Patients living with such conditions often rely on ventilatory assistance to survive, and even those that can be weaned continue to suffer life-threatening impairments. There is currently no treatment for SCI that is capable of providing complete recovery of diaphragm activity and respiratory function. The diaphragm is the main inspiratory muscle, and its activity is controlled by phrenic motoneurons (phMNs) located in the cervical (C3-C5) spinal cord. Preserving and/or restoring phMN activity following a high SCI is essential for achieving voluntary control of breathing. In this review, we will highlight (1) the current knowledge of inflammatory and spontaneous pro-regenerative processes occurring after SCI, (2) key therapeutics developed to date, and (3) how these can be harnessed to drive respiratory recovery following SCIs. These therapeutic approaches are typically first developed and tested in relevant preclinical models, with some of them having been translated into clinical studies. A better understanding of inflammatory and pro-regenerative processes, as well as how they can be therapeutically manipulated, will be the key to achieving optimal functional recovery following SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Michel-Flutot
- END-ICAP, UVSQ, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France;
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA;
| | - Michael A. Lane
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA;
| | - Angelo C. Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA;
| | - Stéphane Vinit
- END-ICAP, UVSQ, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, 78000 Versailles, France;
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8
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BDNF guides neural stem cell-derived axons to ventral interneurons and motor neurons after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2023; 359:114259. [PMID: 36309123 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) implanted into sites of spinal cord injury (SCI) extend very large numbers of new axons over very long distances caudal to the lesion site, and support partial functional recovery. Newly extending graft axons distribute throughout host gray and white matter caudal to the injury. We hypothesized that provision of trophic gradients caudal to the injury would provide neurotrophic guidance to newly extending graft-derived axons to specific intermediate and ventral host gray matter regions, thereby potentially further improving neural relay formation. Immunodeficient rats underwent C5 lateral hemisection lesions, following by implants of human NSC grafts two weeks later. After an additional two weeks, animals received injections of AAV2-BDNF expressing vectors three spinal segments (9 mm) caudal to the lesion in host ventral and intermediate gray matter. After 2 months additional survival, we found a striking, 5.5-fold increase in the density of human axons innervating host ventral gray matter (P < 0.05) and 2.7-fold increase in intermediate gray matter (P < 0.01). Moreover, stem cell-derived axons formed a substantially greater number of putative synaptic connections with host motor neurons (P < 0.01). Thus, trophic guidance is an effective means of enhancing and guiding neural stem cell axon growth after SCI and will be used in future experiments to determine whether neural relay formation and functional outcomes can be improved.
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Yang X, Cao JF, Chen S, Xiong L, Zhang L, Wu M, Wang C, Xu H, Chen Y, Yang S, Zhong L, Wei X, Xiao Z, Gong Y, Li Y, Zhang X. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation study the mechanism of progesterone in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Steroids 2022; 188:109131. [PMID: 36273543 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spinal cord injury can lead to incomplete or complete loss of voluntary movement and sensory function, leading to serious complications. Numerous studies have shown that progesterone exhibits strong therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury. However, the mechanism by which progesterone treats spinal cord injury remains unclear. Therefore, this article explores the mechanism of progesterone in the treatment of spinal cord injury by means of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. METHODS We used bioinformatics to screen active pharmaceutical ingredients and potential targets, and molecular docking and molecular dynamics were used to validate and analysis by the supercomputer platform. RESULTS Progesterone had 3606 gene targets, spinal cord injury had 6560 gene targets, the intersection gene targets were 2355. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the abundant pathways involved multiple pathways related to cell metabolism and inflammation. Molecular docking showed that progesterone played a role in treating spinal cord injury by acting on BDNF, AR, NGF and TNF. Molecular dynamics was used to prove and analyzed the binding stability of active ingredients and protein targets, and AR/Progesterone combination has the strongest binding energy. CONCLUSION Progesterone promotes recovery from spinal cord injury by promoting axonal regeneration, remyelination, neuronal survival and reducing inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun-Feng Cao
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyan Chen
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Mei Wu
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Chaochao Wang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Hengxiang Xu
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yijun Chen
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Siqi Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Zhong
- Center for Experimental Technology of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoliang Wei
- Center for Experimental Technology of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Zixuan Xiao
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunli Gong
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Center for Experimental Technology of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
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10
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Locke KC, Randelman ML, Hoh DJ, Zholudeva LV, Lane MA. Respiratory plasticity following spinal cord injury: perspectives from mouse to man. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2141-2148. [PMID: 35259820 PMCID: PMC9083159 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.335839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of respiratory plasticity in animal models spans decades. At the bench, researchers use an array of techniques aimed at harnessing the power of plasticity within the central nervous system to restore respiration following spinal cord injury. This field of research is highly clinically relevant. People living with cervical spinal cord injury at or above the level of the phrenic motoneuron pool at spinal levels C3-C5 typically have significant impairments in breathing which may require assisted ventilation. Those who are ventilator dependent are at an increased risk of ventilator-associated co-morbidities and have a drastically reduced life expectancy. Pre-clinical research examining respiratory plasticity in animal models has laid the groundwork for clinical trials. Despite how widely researched this injury is in animal models, relatively few treatments have broken through the preclinical barrier. The three goals of this present review are to define plasticity as it pertains to respiratory function post-spinal cord injury, discuss plasticity models of spinal cord injury used in research, and explore the shift from preclinical to clinical research. By investigating current targets of respiratory plasticity research, we hope to illuminate preclinical work that can influence future clinical investigations and the advancement of treatments for spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C. Locke
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Margo L. Randelman
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J. Hoh
- Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lyandysha V. Zholudeva
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael A. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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11
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Allahyari RV, Heinsinger NM, Hwang D, Jaffe DA, Rasouli J, Shiers S, Thomas SJ, Price TJ, Rostami A, Lepore AC. Response of Astrocyte Subpopulations Following Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040721. [PMID: 35203371 PMCID: PMC8870235 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing appreciation for astrocyte heterogeneity both across and within central nervous system (CNS) regions, as well as between intact and diseased states. Recent work identified multiple astrocyte subpopulations in mature brain. Interestingly, one subpopulation (Population C) was shown to possess significantly enhanced synaptogenic properties in vitro, as compared with other astrocyte subpopulations of adult cortex and spinal cord. Following spinal cord injury (SCI), damaged neurons lose synaptic connections with neuronal partners, resulting in persistent functional loss. We determined whether SCI induces an enhanced synaptomodulatory astrocyte phenotype by shifting toward a greater proportion of Population C cells and/or increasing expression of relevant synapse formation-associated genes within one or more astrocyte subpopulations. Using flow cytometry and RNAscope in situ hybridization, we found that astrocyte subpopulation distribution in the spinal cord did not change to a selectively synaptogenic phenotype following mouse cervical hemisection-type SCI. We also found that spinal cord astrocytes expressed synapse formation-associated genes to a similar degree across subpopulations, as well as in an unchanged manner between uninjured and SCI conditions. Finally, we confirmed these astrocyte subpopulations are also present in the human spinal cord in a similar distribution as mouse, suggesting possible conservation of spinal cord astrocyte heterogeneity across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Vivian Allahyari
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (R.V.A.); (N.M.H.); (D.A.J.); (S.J.T.)
| | - Nicolette M. Heinsinger
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (R.V.A.); (N.M.H.); (D.A.J.); (S.J.T.)
| | - Daniel Hwang
- Department of Neurology, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (D.H.); (J.R.); (A.R.)
| | - David A. Jaffe
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (R.V.A.); (N.M.H.); (D.A.J.); (S.J.T.)
| | - Javad Rasouli
- Department of Neurology, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (D.H.); (J.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Stephanie Shiers
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (S.S.); (T.J.P.)
| | - Samantha J. Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (R.V.A.); (N.M.H.); (D.A.J.); (S.J.T.)
| | - Theodore J. Price
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (S.S.); (T.J.P.)
| | - Abdolmohamad Rostami
- Department of Neurology, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (D.H.); (J.R.); (A.R.)
| | - Angelo C. Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (R.V.A.); (N.M.H.); (D.A.J.); (S.J.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-215-503-5864
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12
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Allen LL, Nichols NL, Asa ZA, Emery AT, Ciesla MC, Santiago JV, Holland AE, Mitchell GS, Gonzalez-Rothi EJ. Phrenic motor neuron survival below cervical spinal cord hemisection. Exp Neurol 2021; 346:113832. [PMID: 34363808 PMCID: PMC9065093 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) severs bulbospinal projections to respiratory motor neurons, paralyzing respiratory muscles below the injury. C2 spinal hemisection (C2Hx) is a model of cSCI often used to study spontaneous and induced plasticity and breathing recovery post-injury. One key assumption is that C2Hx dennervates motor neurons below the injury, but does not affect their survival. However, a recent study reported substantial bilateral motor neuron death caudal to C2Hx. Since phrenic motor neuron (PMN) death following C2Hx would have profound implications for therapeutic strategies designed to target spared neural circuits, we tested the hypothesis that C2Hx minimally impacts PMN survival. Using improved retrograde tracing methods, we observed no loss of PMNs at 2- or 8-weeks post-C2Hx. We also observed no injury-related differences in ChAT or NeuN immunolabeling within labelled PMNs. Although we found no evidence of PMN loss following C2Hx, we cannot rule out neuronal loss in other motor pools. These findings address an essential prerequisite for studies that utilize C2Hx as a model to explore strategies for inducing plasticity and/or regeneration within the phrenic motor system, as they provide important insights into the viability of phrenic motor neurons as therapeutic targets after high cervical injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Latoya L Allen
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Nicole L Nichols
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Zachary A Asa
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Marissa C Ciesla
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Juliet V Santiago
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ashley E Holland
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Gordon S Mitchell
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Elisa J Gonzalez-Rothi
- Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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13
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Kim HN, Triplet EM, Radulovic M, Bouchal S, Kleppe LS, Simon WL, Yoon H, Scarisbrick IA. The thrombin receptor modulates astroglia-neuron trophic coupling and neural repair after spinal cord injury. Glia 2021; 69:2111-2132. [PMID: 33887067 PMCID: PMC8672305 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24012] [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: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Excessive activation of the thrombin receptor, protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is implicated in diverse neuropathologies from neurodegenerative conditions to neurotrauma. PAR1 knockout mice show improved outcomes after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI), however information regarding the underpinning cellular and molecular mechanisms is lacking. Here we demonstrate that genetic blockade of PAR1 in female mice results in improvements in sensorimotor co-ordination after thoracic spinal cord lateral compression injury. We document improved neuron preservation with increases in Synapsin-1 presynaptic proteins and GAP43, a growth cone marker, after a 30 days recovery period. These improvements were coupled to signs of enhanced myelin resiliency and repair, including increases in the number of mature oligodendrocytes, their progenitors and the abundance of myelin basic protein. These significant increases in substrates for neural recovery were accompanied by reduced astrocyte (Serp1) and microglial/monocyte (CD68 and iNOS) pro-inflammatory markers, with coordinate increases in astrocyte (S100A10 and Emp1) and microglial (Arg1) markers reflective of pro-repair activities. Complementary astrocyte-neuron co-culture bioassays suggest astrocytes with PAR1 loss-of-function promote both neuron survival and neurite outgrowth. Additionally, the pro-neurite outgrowth effects of switching off astrocyte PAR1 were blocked by inhibiting TrkB, the high affinity receptor for brain derived neurotrophic factor. Altogether, these studies demonstrate unique modulatory roles for PAR1 in regulating glial-neuron interactions, including the capacity for neurotrophic factor signaling, and underscore its position at neurobiological intersections critical for the response of the CNS to injury and the capacity for regenerative repair and restoration of function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Neui Kim
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Erin M. Triplet
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester MN 55905
- Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Maja Radulovic
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Samantha Bouchal
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Laurel S. Kleppe
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Whitney L. Simon
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Hyesook Yoon
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester MN 55905
| | - Isobel A. Scarisbrick
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Rochester MN 55905
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Rochester MN 55905
- Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester MN 55905
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14
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Cheng L, Sami A, Ghosh B, Goudsward HJ, Smith GM, Wright MC, Li S, Lepore AC. Respiratory axon regeneration in the chronically injured spinal cord. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 155:105389. [PMID: 33975016 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105389] [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: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Promoting the combination of robust regeneration of damaged axons and synaptic reconnection of these growing axon populations with appropriate neuronal targets represents a major therapeutic goal following spinal cord injury (SCI). A key impediment to achieving this important aim includes an intrinsic inability of neurons to extend axons in adult CNS, particularly in the context of the chronically-injured spinal cord. We tested whether an inhibitory peptide directed against phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN: a central inhibitor of neuron-intrinsic axon growth potential) could restore inspiratory diaphragm function by reconnecting critical respiratory neural circuitry in a rat model of chronic cervical level 2 (C2) hemisection SCI. We found that systemic delivery of PTEN antagonist peptide 4 (PAP4) starting at 8 weeks after C2 hemisection promoted substantial, long-distance regeneration of injured bulbospinal rostral Ventral Respiratory Group (rVRG) axons into and through the lesion and back toward phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs) located in intact caudal C3-C5 spinal cord. Despite this robust rVRG axon regeneration, PAP4 stimulated only minimal recovery of diaphragm function. Furthermore, re-lesion through the hemisection site completely removed PAP4-induced functional improvement, demonstrating that axon regeneration through the lesion was responsible for this partial functional recovery. Interestingly, there was minimal formation of putative excitatory monosynaptic connections between regrowing rVRG axons and PhMN targets, suggesting that (1) limited rVRG-PhMN synaptic reconnectivity was responsible at least in part for the lack of a significant functional effect, (2) chronically-injured spinal cord presents an obstacle to achieving synaptogenesis between regenerating axons and post-synaptic targets, and (3) addressing this challenge is a potentially-powerful strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy in the chronic SCI setting. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a non-invasive and transient pharmacological approach in chronic SCI to repair the critically-important neural circuitry controlling diaphragmatic respiratory function, but also sheds light on obstacles to circuit plasticity presented by the chronically-injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Cheng
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Armin Sami
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Biswarup Ghosh
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Hannah J Goudsward
- Department of Biology, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd., 220 Boyer Hall, Glenside, PA 19038, USA
| | - George M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals for Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5104, USA
| | - Megan C Wright
- Department of Biology, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd., 220 Boyer Hall, Glenside, PA 19038, USA
| | - Shuxin Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals for Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5104, 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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15
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Zhu S, Ying Y, Ye J, Chen M, Wu Q, Dou H, Ni W, Xu H, Xu J. AAV2-mediated and hypoxia response element-directed expression of bFGF in neural stem cells showed therapeutic effects on spinal cord injury in rats. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:274. [PMID: 33723238 PMCID: PMC7960741 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03546-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cell (NSCs) transplantation has been one of the hot topics in the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is considered a promising nerve injury therapy after SCI. However, owing to a hostile hypoxia condition in SCI, there remains a challenging issue in implementing these tactics to repair SCI. In this report, we used adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2), a prototype AAV used in clinical trials for human neuron disorders, basic FGF (bFGF) gene under the regulation of hypoxia response element (HRE) was constructed and transduced into NSCs to yield AAV2-5HRE-bFGF-NSCs. Our results showed that its treatment yielded temporally increased expression of bFGF in SCI, and improved scores of functional recovery after SCI compared to vehicle control (AAV2-5HRE-NSCs) based on the analyses of the inclined plane test, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and footprint analysis. Mechanistic studies showed that AAV2-5HRE-bFGF-NSCs treatment increased the expression of neuron-specific neuronal nuclei protein (NeuN), neuromodulin GAP43, and neurofilament protein NF200 while decreased the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as compared to the control group. Further, the expressions of autophagy-associated proteins LC3-II and Beclin 1 were decreased, whereas the expression of P62 protein was increased in AAV2-5HRE-bFGF-NSCs treatment group. Taken together, our data indicate that AAV2-5HRE-bFGF-NSCs treatment improved the recovery of SCI rats, which is accompanied by evidence of nerve regeneration, and inhibition of SCI-induced glial scar formation and cell autophagy. Thus, this study represents a step forward towards the potential use of AAV2-5HRE-bFGF-NSCs for future clinical trials of SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sipin Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, China.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Yibo Ying
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Ye
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qiuji Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 325027, Wenzhou, China
| | - Haicheng Dou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenfei Ni
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huazi Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiake Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
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16
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Muheremu A, Shu L, Liang J, Aili A, Jiang K. Sustained delivery of neurotrophic factors to treat spinal cord injury. Transl Neurosci 2021; 12:494-511. [PMID: 34900347 PMCID: PMC8633588 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2020-0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that results in tremendous physical and psychological harm and a series of socioeconomic problems. Although neurons in the spinal cord need neurotrophic factors for their survival and development to reestablish their connections with their original targets, endogenous neurotrophic factors are scarce and the sustainable delivery of exogeneous neurotrophic factors is challenging. The widely studied neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, nerve growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor have a relatively short cycle that is not sufficient enough for functionally significant neural regeneration after SCI. In the past decades, scholars have tried a variety of cellular and viral vehicles as well as tissue engineering scaffolds to safely and sustainably deliver those necessary neurotrophic factors to the injury site, and achieved satisfactory neural repair and functional recovery on many occasions. Here, we review the neurotrophic factors that have been used in trials to treat SCI, and vehicles that were commonly used for their sustained delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikeremujiang Muheremu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 39 Wuxing Nan Rd, Tianshan District, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 86830001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Shu
- Department of Orthopedics, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 86830001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 39, Wuxing Nan Rd, Tianshan District, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 86830001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Abudunaibi Aili
- Department of Spine Surgery, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 39 Wuxing Nan Rd, Tianshan District, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 86830001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kan Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 86830001, People’s Republic of China
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17
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Cheng L, Sami A, Ghosh B, Urban MW, Heinsinger NM, Liang SS, Smith GM, Wright MC, Li S, Lepore AC. LAR inhibitory peptide promotes recovery of diaphragm function and multiple forms of respiratory neural circuit plasticity after cervical spinal cord injury. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 147:105153. [PMID: 33127470 PMCID: PMC7726004 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), up-regulated in and around the lesion after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), are key extracellular matrix inhibitory molecules that limit axon growth and consequent recovery of function. CSPG-mediated inhibition occurs via interactions with axonal receptors, including leukocyte common antigen- related (LAR) phosphatase. We tested the effects of a novel LAR inhibitory peptide in rats after hemisection at cervical level 2, a SCI model in which bulbospinal inspiratory neural circuitry originating in the medullary rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) becomes disconnected from phrenic motor neuron (PhMN) targets in cervical spinal cord, resulting in persistent partial-to-complete diaphragm paralysis. LAR peptide was delivered by a soaked gelfoam, which was placed directly over the injury site immediately after C2 hemisection and replaced at 1 week post-injury. Axotomized rVRG axons originating in ipsilateral medulla or spared rVRG fibers originating in contralateral medulla were separately assessed by anterograde tracing via AAV2-mCherry injection into rVRG. At 8 weeks post-hemisection, LAR peptide significantly improved ipsilateral hemidiaphragm function, as assessed in vivo with electromyography recordings. LAR peptide promoted robust regeneration of ipsilateral-originating rVRG axons into and through the lesion site and into intact caudal spinal cord to reach PhMNs located at C3-C5 levels. Furthermore, regenerating rVRG axons re-established putative monosynaptic connections with their PhMNs targets. In addition, LAR peptide stimulated robust sprouting of both modulatory serotonergic axons and contralateral-originating rVRG fibers within the PhMN pool ipsilateral/ caudal to the hemisection. Our study demonstrates that targeting LAR-based axon growth inhibition promotes multiple forms of respiratory neural circuit plasticity and provides a new peptide-based therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the devastating respiratory consequences of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Cheng
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Armin Sami
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Biswarup Ghosh
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Mark W Urban
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Nicolette M Heinsinger
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - Sophia S Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America
| | - George M Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Shriners Hospitals for Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5104, United States of America
| | - Megan C Wright
- Department of Biology, Arcadia University, Glenside, PA 19038, United States of America
| | - Shuxin Li
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140-5104, United States of America
| | - Angelo C Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States of America.
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