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Angelin LG, Carreño MNP, Otoch JP, de Resende JCF, Arévalo A, Motta-Teixeira LC, Seelaender MCL, Lepski G. Regeneration and Plasticity Induced by Epidural Stimulation in a Rodent Model of Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9043. [PMID: 39201729 PMCID: PMC11354918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25169043] [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: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury is a major cause of disability for which there are currently no fully effective treatments. Recent studies using epidural electrical stimulation have shown significant advances in motor rehabilitation, even when applied during chronic phases of the disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of epidural electric stimulation in the motor recovery of rats with spinal cord injury. Furthermore, we aimed to elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor recovery. First, we improved upon the impact spinal cord injury model to cause severe and permanent motor deficits lasting up to 2 months. Next, we developed and tested an implantable epidural spinal cord stimulator device for rats containing an electrode and an implantable generator. Finally, we evaluated the efficacy of epidural electrical stimulation on motor recovery after spinal cord injury in Wistar rats. A total of 60 animals were divided into the following groups: (i) severe injury with epidural electrical stimulation (injury + stim, n = 15), (ii) severe injury without stimulation (group injury, n = 15), (iii) sham implantation without battery (sham, n = 15), and (iv) a control group, without surgical intervention (control, n = 15). All animals underwent weekly evaluations using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale index, inclined plane, and OpenField test starting one week before the lesion and continuing for eight weeks. After this period, the animals were sacrificed and their spinal cords were explanted and prepared for histological analysis (hematoxylin-eosin) and immunohistochemistry for NeuN, β-III-tubulin, synaptophysin, and Caspase 3. Finally, NeuN-positive neuronal nuclei were quantified through stereology; fluorescence signal intensities for β-tubulin, synaptophyin, and Caspase 3 were quantified using an epifluorescence microscope. The injury + stim group showed significant improvement on the BBB scale compared with the injured group after the 5th week (p < 0.05). Stereological analysis showed a significantly higher average count of neural cells in the injury + stim group in relation to the injury group (1783 ± 2 vs. 897 ± 3, p < 0.001). Additionally, fluorescence signal intensity for synaptophysin was significantly higher in the injury + stim group in relation to the injury group (1294 ± 46 vs. 1198 ± 23, p < 0.01); no statistically significant difference was found in β-III-tubulin signal intensity. Finally, Caspase 3 signal intensity was significantly lower in the stim group (727 ± 123) compared with the injury group (1225 ± 87 p < 0.05), approaching levels observed in the sham and control groups. Our data suggest a regenerative and protective effect of epidural electrical stimulation in rats subjected to impact-induced traumatic spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonidas Gomes Angelin
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Nelson Páez Carreño
- Microelectronics and Materials Laboratory, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
| | - Jose Pinhata Otoch
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Joyce Cristina Ferreira de Resende
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Analía Arévalo
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Lívia Clemente Motta-Teixeira
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Behaviour, Department of Physiological Sciences, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo School of Medical Sciences, Sao Paulo 01221-020, Brazil;
| | - Marilia Cerqueira Leite Seelaender
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Lepski
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation, LIM26, Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
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Batista CM, Mariano ED, Dale CS, Cristante AF, Britto LR, Otoch JP, Teixeira MJ, Morgalla M, Lepski G. Pain inhibition through transplantation of fetal neuronal progenitors into the injured spinal cord in rats. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:2011-2019. [PMID: 31290460 PMCID: PMC6676883 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.259624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex condition that responds poorly to usual treatments. Cell transplantation represents a promising therapy; nevertheless, the ideal cell type in terms of neurogenic potential and effectiveness against pain remains largely controversial. Here, we evaluated the ability of fetal neural stem cells (fNSC) to relieve chronic pain and, secondarily, their effects on motor recovery. Adult Wistar rats with traumatic SCI were treated, 10 days after injury, with intra-spinal injections of culture medium (sham) or fNSCs extracted from telencephalic vesicles (TV group) or the ventral medulla (VM group) of E/14 embryos. Sensory (von Frey filaments and hot plate) and motor (the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan locomotor rating scale and inclined plane test) assessments were performed during 8 weeks. Thereafter, spinal cords were processed for immunofluorescence and transplanted cells were quantified by stereology. The results showed improvement of thermal hyperalgesia in the TV and VM groups at 4 and 5 weeks after transplantation, respectively. Moreover, mechanical allodynia improved in both the TV and VM groups at 8 weeks. No significant motor recovery was observed in the TV or VM groups compared with sham. Stereological analyses showed that ~70% of TV and VM cells differentiated into NeuN+ neurons, with a high proportion of enkephalinergic and GABAergic cells in the TV group and enkephalinergic and serotoninergic cells in the VM group. Our study suggests that neuronal precursors from TV and VM, once implanted into the injured spinal cord, maturate into different neuronal subtypes, mainly GABAergic, serotoninergic, and enkephalinergic, and all subtypes alleviate pain, despite no significant motor recovery. The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo (protocol number 033/14) on March 4, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chary M Batista
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eric D Mariano
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila S Dale
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Cristante
- Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz R Britto
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose P Otoch
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoel J Teixeira
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matthias Morgalla
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Guilherme Lepski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Nicholls FJ, Liu JR, Modo M. A Comparison of Exogenous Labels for the Histological Identification of Transplanted Neural Stem Cells. Cell Transplant 2016; 26:625-645. [PMID: 27938486 DOI: 10.3727/096368916x693680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The interpretation of cell transplantation experiments is often dependent on the presence of an exogenous label for the identification of implanted cells. The exogenous labels Hoechst 33342, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), PKH26, and Qtracker were compared for their labeling efficiency, cellular effects, and reliability to identify a human neural stem cell (hNSC) line implanted intracerebrally into the rat brain. Hoechst 33342 (2 mg/ml) exhibited a delayed cytotoxicity that killed all cells within 7 days. This label was hence not progressed to in vivo studies. PKH26 (5 μM), Qtracker (15 nM), and BrdU (0.2 μM) labeled 100% of the cell population at day 1, although BrdU labeling declined by day 7. BrdU and Qtracker exerted effects on proliferation and differentiation. PKH26 reduced viability and proliferation at day 1, but this normalized by day 7. In an in vitro coculture assay, all labels transferred to unlabeled cells. After transplantation, the reliability of exogenous labels was assessed against the gold standard of a human-specific nuclear antigen (HNA) antibody. BrdU, PKH26, and Qtracker resulted in a very small proportion (<2%) of false positives, but a significant amount of false negatives (∼30%), with little change between 1 and 7 days. Exogenous labels can therefore be reliable to identify transplanted cells without exerting major cellular effects, but validation is required. The interpretation of cell transplantation experiments should be presented in the context of the label's limitations.
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Learning-induced synaptic potentiation in implanted neural precursor cell-derived neurons. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17796. [PMID: 26634434 PMCID: PMC4669478 DOI: 10.1038/srep17796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal loss caused by neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury and stroke results in cognitive dysfunctioning. Implantation of neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) can improve the brain function by replacing lost neurons. Proper synaptic integration following neuronal differentiation of implanted cells is believed to be a prerequisite for the functional recovery. In the present study, we characterized the functional properties of immortalized neural progenitor HiB5 cells implanted into the rat hippocampus with chemically induced lesion. The implanted HiB5 cells migrated toward CA1 pyramidal layer and differentiated into vGluT1-positive glutamatergic neurons with morphological and electrophysiological properties of endogenous CA1 pyramidal cells. Functional synaptic integration of HiB5 cell-derived neurons was also evidenced by immunohistochemical and electrophysiological data. Lesion-caused memory deficit was significantly recovered after the implantation when assessed by inhibitory avoidance (IA) learning. Remarkably, IA learning preferentially produced long-term potentiation (LTP) at the synapses onto HiB5 cell-derived neurons, which occluded paring protocol-induced LTP ex vivo. We conclude that the implanted HiB5 cell-derived neurons actively participate in learning process through LTP formation, thereby counteracting lesion-mediated memory impairment.
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Batista CEM, Mariano ED, Marie SKN, Teixeira MJ, Morgalla M, Tatagiba M, Li J, Lepski G. Stem cells in neurology--current perspectives. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2014; 72:457-65. [PMID: 24964114 DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x20140045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Central nervous system (CNS) restoration is an important clinical challenge and stem cell transplantation has been considered a promising therapeutic option for many neurological diseases. OBJECTIVE The present review aims to briefly describe stem cell biology, as well as to outline the clinical application of stem cells in the treatment of diseases of the CNS. METHOD Literature review of animal and human clinical experimental trials, using the following key words: "stem cell", "neurogenesis", "Parkinson", "Huntington", "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis", "traumatic brain injury", "spinal cord injury", "ischemic stroke", and "demyelinating diseases". CONCLUSION Major recent advances in stem cell research have brought us several steps closer to their effective clinical application, which aims to develop efficient ways of regenerating the damaged CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Domingos Mariano
- Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira
- Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Matthias Morgalla
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marcos Tatagiba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Guilherme Lepski
- Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Lepski G, Jannes CE, Nikkhah G, Bischofberger J. cAMP promotes the differentiation of neural progenitor cells in vitro via modulation of voltage-gated calcium channels. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:155. [PMID: 24065885 PMCID: PMC3777016 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) remain poorly understood. In this study we investigated the role of Ca2+ and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the differentiation of NPCs extracted from the subventricular zone of E14.5 rat embryos. Patch clamp recordings revealed that increasing cAMP-signaling with Forskolin or IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine) significantly facilitated neuronal functional maturation. A continuous application of IBMX to the differentiation medium substantially increased the functional expression of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels, as well as neuronal firing frequency. Furthermore, we observed an increase in the frequency of spontaneous synaptic currents and in the amplitude of evoked glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic currents. The most prominent acute effect of applying IBMX was an increase in L-type Ca2+currents. Conversely, blocking L-type channels strongly inhibited dendritic outgrowth and synapse formation even in the presence of IBMX, indicating that voltage-gated Ca2+ influx plays a major role in neuronal differentiation. Finally, we found that nifedipine completely blocks IBMX-induced CREB phosphorylation (cAMP-response-element-binding protein), indicating that the activity of this important transcription factor equally depends on both enhanced cAMP and voltage-gated Ca2+-signaling. Taken together, these data indicate that the up-regulation of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+-channels and early electrical excitability are critical steps in the cAMP-dependent differentiation of SVZ-derived NPCs into functional neurons. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the acute effects of cAMP on voltage-gated Ca+2channels in NPC-derived developing neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Lepski
- Department of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, University Albert-Ludwig Freiburg, Germany ; Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany
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Lepski G. What do we know about the neurogenic potential of different stem cell types? ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2012; 70:540-6. [DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2012000700013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cell therapies, based on transplantation of immature cells, are being considered as a promising tool in the treatment of neurological disorders. Many efforts are being concentrated on the development of safe and effective stem cell lines. Nevertheless, the neurogenic potential of some cell lines, i.e., the ability to generate mature neurons either in vitro or in vivo, is largely unknown. Recent evidence indicate that this potential might be distinct among different cell lines, therefore limiting their broad use as replacement cells in the central nervous system. Here, we have reviewed the latest advancements regarding the electrophysiological maturation of stem cells, focusing our attention on fetal-derived-, embryonic-, and induced pluripotent stem cells. In summary, a large body of evidence supports the biological safety, high neurogenic potential, and in some diseases probable clinical efficiency related to fetal-derived cells. By contrast, reliable data regarding embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are still missing.
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Teratani T, Kobayashi E. In Vivo Bioimaging Rats for Translational Research in Cell and Tissue Transplantation. CELL MEDICINE 2012; 3:3-11. [PMID: 28058175 DOI: 10.3727/215517912x639342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The rat is an excellent cell transplantation model. In accordance with the innovative development of in vivo bioimaging technology, over the last decade we have been developing an engineered rat system based on transgenic technology and have been demonstrating the usefulness of the system with genetically encoded imaging probes such as fluorescent and luminescent proteins. In cooperation with the Japan Society for Organ Preservation and Medical Biology (President: Professor T. Asano), we have also been using luciferase-Tg rats for research into organ preservation and cell transplantation. In this minireview, we introduce the results obtained recently by using these powerful experimental tools during international collaboration in cell transplantation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Teratani
- Division of Development of Advanced Therapy, Center for Development of Advanced Medical Technology, Jichi Medical University , Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi , Japan
| | - Eiji Kobayashi
- Division of Development of Advanced Therapy, Center for Development of Advanced Medical Technology, Jichi Medical University , Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi , Japan
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Delayed functional maturation of human neuronal progenitor cells in vitro. Mol Cell Neurosci 2011; 47:36-44. [PMID: 21362477 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2011.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Revised: 02/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) in vitro into functional neurons is dependent on a complex cascade of molecular signaling pathways, many of which remain unknown. More specifically, in human NPCs the relationship between the expression of typical neuronal marker proteins and functional properties, such as firing action potential and synaptic transmission, is not well understood. In the present report, the immunocytochemical, morphological and electrophysiological changes that human NPCs undergo during neuronal differentiation in vitro were investigated. METHODS Human NPCs were differentiated toward a neuronal phenotype. The time course of the expression of neuronal markers and morphological cell changes was mapped and passive and active electrophysiological membrane properties assessed, throughout the neuronal maturation process. RESULTS The acquisition of neuronal markers preceded functional physiological maturation by several weeks. Cell input resistance decreased in the first 2 weeks as cells became less sensitive to input current, while cell capacitance progressively increased with continued neuronal process growth. Functional maturation was observed only by the fifth/sixth week, preceded by a marked increase in Na+ and K+ currents. In contrast, electrophysiological maturation of rodent precursor cells was observed at the end of the first week in vitro. Functionally, human neuronal cells became capable of firing action potentials and forming active synaptic contacts. Many features of the firing pattern however remained immature. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that human NPCs develop remarkably slowly and retain immature neuronal features for a prolonged period. The importance of Na-dependent activity for proper neuronal maturation is emphasized.
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