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Verma N, Fazioli A, Matijasich P. Natural recovery and regeneration of the central nervous system. Regen Med 2022; 17:233-244. [DOI: 10.2217/rme-2021-0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis and management of CNS injuries comprises a large portion of psychiatric practice. Many clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of treating CNS injuries using various regenerative techniques and materials such as stem cells, biomaterials and genetic modification. Therefore it is the goal of this review article to briefly summarize the pathogenesis of CNS injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and cerebrovascular accidents. Next, we discuss the role of natural recovery and regeneration of the CNS, explore the relevance in clinical practice and discuss emerging and cutting-edge treatments and current barriers in the field of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Verma
- Essential Sports & Spine Solutions, 6100 East Main Street 107, Columbus, OH 43213, USA
| | - Alex Fazioli
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA 16509, USA
| | - Paige Matijasich
- University of Toledo College of Medicine & Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
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2
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Neuhaus W, Krämer T, Neuhoff A, Gölz C, Thal SC, Förster CY. Multifaceted Mechanisms of WY-14643 to Stabilize the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Model of Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:149. [PMID: 28603485 PMCID: PMC5445138 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is damaged during ischemic insults such as traumatic brain injury or stroke. This contributes to vasogenic edema formation and deteriorate disease outcomes. Enormous efforts are pursued to understand underlying mechanisms of ischemic insults and develop novel therapeutic strategies. In the present study the effects of PPARα agonist WY-14643 were investigated to prevent BBB breakdown and reduce edema formation. WY-14643 inhibited barrier damage in a mouse BBB in vitro model of traumatic brain injury based on oxygen/glucose deprivation in a concentration dependent manner. This was linked to changes of the localization of tight junction proteins. Furthermore, WY-14643 altered phosphorylation of kinases ERK1/2, p38, and SAPK/JNK and was able to inhibit proteosomal activity. Moreover, addition of WY-14643 upregulated PAI-1 leading to decreased t-PA activity. Mouse in vivo experiments showed significantly decreased edema formation in a controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury after WY-14643 application, which was not found in PAI-1 knockout mice. Generally, data suggested that WY-14643 induced cellular responses which were dependent as well as independent from PPARα mediated transcription. In conclusion, novel mechanisms of a PPARα agonist were elucidated to attenuate BBB breakdown during traumatic brain injury in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winfried Neuhaus
- Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Competence Center Health and Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) GmbHVienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Krämer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University of MainzMainz, Germany
| | - Anja Neuhoff
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Center of Operative Medicine, University Hospital WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Gölz
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University of MainzMainz, Germany
| | - Serge C Thal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University of MainzMainz, Germany
| | - Carola Y Förster
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Center of Operative Medicine, University Hospital WürzburgWürzburg, Germany
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Yoon KJ, Lee YT, Chung PW, Lee YK, Kim DY, Chun MH. Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Behavioral Recovery during Early Stage of Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats. J Korean Med Sci 2015; 30:1496-502. [PMID: 26425049 PMCID: PMC4575941 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.10.1496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising technique that modulates neural networks. However, there were few studies evaluating the effects of rTMS in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Herein, we assessed the effectiveness of rTMS on behavioral recovery and metabolic changes using brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in a rat model of TBI. We also evaluated the safety of rTMS by measuring brain swelling with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent lateral fluid percussion and were randomly assigned to the sham (n=10) or the rTMS (n=10) group. rTMS was applied on the fourth day after TBI and consisted of 10 daily sessions for 2 weeks with 10 Hz frequency (total pulses=3,000). Although the rTMS group showed an anti-apoptotic effect around the peri-lesional area, functional improvements were not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, rTMS did not modulate brain metabolites in MRS, nor was there any change of brain lesion or edema after magnetic stimulation. These data suggest that rTMS did not have beneficial effects on motor recovery during early stages of TBI, although an anti-apoptosis was observed in the peri-lesional area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Jae Yoon
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Medical Research Institute, Regenerative & Neuroscience Laboratory, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Taek Lee
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Medical Research Institute, Regenerative & Neuroscience Laboratory, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Pil-Wook Chung
- Department of Neurology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Lee
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae Yul Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Ho Chun
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Sashindranath M, Sales E, Daglas M, Freeman R, Samson AL, Cops EJ, Beckham S, Galle A, McLean C, Morganti-Kossmann C, Rosenfeld JV, Madani R, Vassalli JD, Su EJ, Lawrence DA, Medcalf RL. The tissue-type plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 complex promotes neurovascular injury in brain trauma: evidence from mice and humans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 135:3251-64. [PMID: 22822039 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The neurovascular unit provides a dynamic interface between the circulation and central nervous system. Disruption of neurovascular integrity occurs in numerous brain pathologies including neurotrauma and ischaemic stroke. Tissue plasminogen activator is a serine protease that converts plasminogen to plasmin, a protease that dissolves blood clots. Besides its role in fibrinolysis, tissue plasminogen activator is abundantly expressed in the brain where it mediates extracellular proteolysis. However, proteolytically active tissue plasminogen activator also promotes neurovascular disruption after ischaemic stroke; the molecular mechanisms of this process are still unclear. Tissue plasminogen activator is naturally inhibited by serine protease inhibitors (serpins): plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, neuroserpin or protease nexin-1 that results in the formation of serpin:protease complexes. Proteases and serpin:protease complexes are cleared through high-affinity binding to low-density lipoprotein receptors, but their binding to these receptors can also transmit extracellular signals across the plasma membrane. The matrix metalloproteinases are the second major proteolytic system in the mammalian brain, and like tissue plasminogen activators are pivotal to neurological function but can also degrade structures of the neurovascular unit after injury. Herein, we show that tissue plasminogen activator potentiates neurovascular damage in a dose-dependent manner in a mouse model of neurotrauma. Surprisingly, inhibition of activity following administration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 significantly increased cerebrovascular permeability. This led to our finding that formation of complexes between tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the brain parenchyma facilitates post-traumatic cerebrovascular damage. We demonstrate that following trauma, the complex binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors, triggering the induction of matrix metalloproteinase-3. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-3 attenuates neurovascular permeability and improves neurological function in injured mice. Our results are clinically relevant, because concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex and matrix metalloproteinase-3 are significantly elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of trauma patients and correlate with neurological outcome. In a separate study, we found that matrix metalloproteinase-3 and albumin, a marker of cerebrovascular damage, were significantly increased in brain tissue of patients with neurotrauma. Perturbation of neurovascular homeostasis causing oedema, inflammation and cell death is an important cause of acute and long-term neurological dysfunction after trauma. A role for the tissue plasminogen activator-matrix metalloproteinase axis in promoting neurovascular disruption after neurotrauma has not been described thus far. Targeting tissue plasminogen activator: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex signalling or downstream matrix metalloproteinase-3 induction may provide viable therapeutic strategies to reduce cerebrovascular permeability after neurotrauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maithili Sashindranath
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
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5
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Silva GA. Nanotechnology applications and approaches for neuroregeneration and drug delivery to the central nervous system. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2010; 1199:221-30. [PMID: 20633128 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05361.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is the science and engineering concerned with the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and devices that have a functional organization in at least one dimension on the nanometer (i.e., one billionth of a meter) scale. The potential impact of bottom up self-assembling nanotechnology, custom made molecules that self-assemble or self-organize into higher ordered structures in response to a defined chemical or physical cue, and top down lithographic type technologies where detail is engineered at smaller scales starting from bulk materials, stems from the fact that these nanoengineered materials and devices exhibit emergent mesocale and macroscale chemical and physical properties that are often different than their constituent nanoscale building block molecules or materials. As such, applications of nanotechnology to medicine and biology allow the interaction and integration of cells and tissues with nanoengineered substrates at a molecular (i.e., subcellular) level with a very high degree of functional specificity and control. This review considers applications of nanotechnology aimed at the neuroprotection and functional regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) following traumatic or degenerative insults, and nanotechnology approaches for delivering drugs and other small molecules across the blood-brain barrier. It also discusses developing platform technologies that may prove to have broad applications to medicine and physiology, including some being developed for rescuing or replacing anatomical and/or functional CNS structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Silva
- Departments of Bioengineering, Ophthalmology and Neurosciences Program, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
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Zupanc GK. Towards brain repair: Insights from teleost fish. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2009; 20:683-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2008] [Revised: 11/27/2008] [Accepted: 12/01/2008] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Sun P, Gu J, Maze M, Ma D. Is xenon a future neuroprotectant? FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2009. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.09.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute neuronal injury has devastating consequences with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Among its survivors, neurological deficit is associated with loss of function, independence and quality of life. Currently, there is a distinctive lack of effective clinical strategies to obviate this problem. Xenon, a noble gas with anesthetic properties, exhibits neuroprotective effects. It is efficacious and nontoxic and has been used safely in clinical settings involving both anesthetic and imaging applications in patients of all ages. Xenon blocks the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor, a pivotal step in the pathway towards neuronal death. The preclinical data obtained from animal models of stroke, neonatal asphyxia and global ischemia induced by cardiac arrest, as well as recent data of traumatic brain injury, revealed that xenon is a potentially ideal candidate as a neuroprotectant. In addition, recent studies demonstrated that xenon can uniquely prevent anesthetic-induced neurodegeneration in the developing brain. Thus, clinical studies are urgently required to investigate the neuroprotective effects of xenon in the clinical setting of brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Sun
- Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine & Intensive Care, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jianteng Gu
- Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine & Intensive Care, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK and, Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mervyn Maze
- Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine & Intensive Care, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Daqing Ma
- Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine & Intensive Care, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
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Modi G, Pillay V, Choonara YE, Ndesendo VMK, du Toit LC, Naidoo D. Nanotechnological applications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Prog Neurobiol 2009; 88:272-85. [PMID: 19486920 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Revised: 03/26/2009] [Accepted: 05/22/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology employs engineered materials or devices that interact with biological systems at a molecular level and could revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) by stimulating, responding to and interacting with target sites to induce physiological responses while minimizing side-effects. Conventional drug delivery systems do not provide adequate cyto-architecture restoration and connection patterns that are essential for functional recovery in NDs, due to limitations posed by the restrictive blood-brain barrier. This review article provides a concise incursion into the current and future applications of nano-enabled drug delivery systems for the treatment of NDs, in particular Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and explores the application of nanotechnology in clinical neuroscience to develop innovative therapeutic modalities for the treatment of NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Modi
- University of the Witwatersrand, School of Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
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beta-Adrenoceptor blockers protect against staurosporine-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2008; 589:14-21. [PMID: 18534571 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2007] [Revised: 04/03/2008] [Accepted: 04/11/2008] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The beta-adrenoceptor blockers exhibit a well-characterized anti-apoptotic property in the heart and kidney while less is known about the effect of this class of drugs on neuronal apoptosis. We studied the effects of three beta-adrenoceptor blockers propranolol (1-(isoproplyamino)-3-(naphthalene-1-yloxy)propan-2-ol), atenolol (2-[4-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-methylethylamino)propoxyl]phenyl]ehanamide), and ICI 118551 (1-[2,3-(dihydro-7-methyl-1H-iden-4-yl)oxy]-3-[(1-methylethyl)amino]-2-butanol), against staurosporine-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Staurosporine increased caspase 3-like activity, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and the number of TUNEL positive cells consistent with the induction of apoptosis. Propranolol and ICI 118551, but not atenolol, demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibition of caspase 3-like activity. Propranolol and ICI 118551 directly inhibited the enzymatic activity of recombinant caspase 9 while atenolol did not; however, none of the beta-adrenoceptor blockers that were examined directly blocked caspases 2 or 3 activity. In isolated mitochondria, propranolol and ICI 118551 inhibited staurosporine-induced cytochrome c release while atenolol did not. We conclude that propranolol and ICI 118551 protect SH-SY5Y cells against staurosporine-induced apoptosis through a dual action on the mitochondria and on caspase 9 in a cell type and an apoptotic paradigm where the conventional inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition such as cyclosporin A and bongkrekic acid demonstrate no protection.
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Cutler SM, Cekic M, Miller DM, Wali B, VanLandingham JW, Stein DG. Progesterone improves acute recovery after traumatic brain injury in the aged rat. J Neurotrauma 2007; 24:1475-86. [PMID: 17892409 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2007.0294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has demonstrated that treatment with progesterone can attenuate many of the pathophysiological events following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in young adult rats, but this effect has not been investigated in aged animals. In this study, 20-month-old male Fischer 344 rats with bilateral contusions of the frontal cortex (n = 4 per group) or sham operations received 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg of progesterone or vehicle. Locomotor activity was measured at 72 h to assess behavioral recovery. Brain tissue was harvested at 24, 48, and 72 h, and Western blotting was performed for inflammatory and apoptotic factors. Edema was assessed at 48 h by measuring brain water content. Injured animals treated with 8 and 16 mg/kg progesterone showed decreased expression of COX-2, IL-6, and NFkappaB at all time points, indicating a reduction in the acute inflammatory process compared to vehicle. The 16 mg/kg group also showed reduced apoptosis at all time points as well as decreased edema and improved locomotor outcomes. Thus, in aged male rats, treatment with 16 mg/kg progesterone improves short-term motor recovery and attenuates edema, secondary inflammation, and cell death after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Cutler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
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Martinez-Vargas M, Gonzalez-Rivera R, Soto-Nuñez M, Cisneros-Martinez M, Huerta-Saquero A, Morales-Gomez J, Molina-Guarneros J, Navarro L. Recovery after a traumatic brain injury depends on diurnal variations. Neurosci Lett 2006; 400:21-4. [PMID: 16519999 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2005] [Revised: 02/03/2006] [Accepted: 02/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Many studies indicate that the hour of the day at which the onset of stroke occurs is very important in patient recovery. Furthermore, multiple studies have been conducted which show that ischemia in rats produces different magnitudes of injury depending on the hour of the day at which it was induced. Using a traumatic brain injury (TBI) model, we analyzed the effect of the time of day on the recovery of rats and obtained a higher survival rate if TBI was induced at 01:00 h as compared with TBI induced at 13:00 h. We also analyzed the effect of the protease inhibitor cystatin C (CC) on the recovery of rats from TBI and found that it increased mortality and bleeding, and that these effects were more pronounced at 13:00 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Martinez-Vargas
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM. Apdo. Postal 70-250, Mexico, D.F. 04510, Mexico
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Serbest G, Horwitz J, Barbee K. The effect of poloxamer-188 on neuronal cell recovery from mechanical injury. J Neurotrauma 2005; 22:119-32. [PMID: 15665607 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2005.22.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal injury resulting from mechanical deformation is poorly characterized at the cellular level. The immediate structural consequences of the mechanical loading lead to a variety of inter- and intra-cellular signaling events that interact on multiple time and length scales. Thus, it is often difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships such that appropriate treatment strategies can be devised. In this report, we showed that treating mechanically injured neuronal cells with an agent that promotes the resealing of disrupted plasma membranes rescues them from death at 24 h post-injury. A new in vitro model was developed to allow uniform mechanical loading conditions with precisely controlled magnitude and onset rate of loading. Injury severity increased monotonically with increasing peak shear stress and was strongly dependent on the rate of loading as assessed with the MTT cell viability assay, 24 h post-injury. Mechanical injury produced an immediate disruption of membrane integrity as indicated by a rapid and transient release of LDH. For the most severe injury, cell viability decreased approximately 40% with mechanical trauma compared to sham controls. Treatment of cells with Poloxamer 188 at 15 min post-injury restored long-term viability to control values. These data establish membrane integrity as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulyeter Serbest
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Silva GA. Nanotechnology approaches for the regeneration and neuroprotection of the central nervous system. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 63:301-6. [PMID: 15808703 DOI: 10.1016/j.surneu.2004.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2004] [Accepted: 06/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is the science and engineering concerned with the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and devices that have a functional organization in at least 1 dimension on the nanometer (ie, one-billionth of a meter) scale. The ability to manipulate and control engineered self-assembling (ie, self-organizing) substrates at these scales produces macroscopic physical and/or chemical properties in the bulk material not possessed by the constituent building block molecules alone. This in turn results in a degree of functional integration between the engineered substrates and cellular or physiological systems not previously attainable. Applied nanotechnology aimed at the regeneration and neuroprotection of the central nervous system (CNS) will significantly benefit from basic nanotechnology research conducted in parallel with advances in cell biology, neurophysiology, and neuropathology. Ultimately the goal is to develop novel technologies that directly or indirectly aid in providing neuroprotection and/or a permissive environment and active signaling cues for guided axon growth. In some cases, it is expected that the neurosurgeon will be required to administer these substrates to the patient. As such, in order for nanotechnology applications directed toward neurological disorders to develop to their fullest potential, it will be important for neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists to participate and contribute to the scientific process alongside physical science and engineering colleagues. This review will focus on emerging clinical applications aimed at the regeneration and neuroprotection of the injured CNS, and discuss other platform technologies that have a significant potential for being adapted for clinical neuroscience applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Silva
- Department of Bioengineering, Whitaker Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037-0946, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Verma
- Basic Research Division, Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
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