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Lu L, Ye J, Yi D, Qi T, Luo T, Wu S, Yang L, Li L, Zhang H, Chen D. Runx2 Suppresses Astrocyte Activation and Astroglial Scar Formation After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04212-6. [PMID: 38789894 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04212-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
After spinal cord injury, astrocytes undergo a reactive process and form an astroglial scar, which impedes the regeneration of axons. The role of Runx2 in promoting the transformation of astrocytes in the central nervous system is well-established. However, it remains unclear whether Runx2 also plays a role in the development of astroglial scar, and the precise underlying mechanism has yet to be identified. Recently, our study using cell culture and animal models has demonstrated that Runx2 actually suppresses astrocyte activation and the formation of astroglial scar following injury. The initial results demonstrated an increase in the expression of Runx2 in astrocytes following in vivo injury. Subsequently, the overexpression of Runx2 resulted in the inhibition of astrocyte activation, reduction in the total area of astroglial scar, and restoration of neural function after 14 days of injury. However, these effects were reversed by CADD522. These findings indicate that Runx2 could potentially serve as a therapeutic intervention for spinal cord injury (SCI). Furthermore, our findings suggest that the Nuclear-matrix-targeting signal (NMTS) of Runx2 is associated with its effect. In summary, the study's results propose that targeting Runx2 may be a promising treatment approach for reactive astrocytes and astroglial scar in the recovery of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Lu
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Jiazong Ye
- Department of Ultrasound, Dongtou District People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325700, China
| | - Dafa Yi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Tengfei Qi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Tong Luo
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Silei Wu
- The Wenzhou Third Clinical Institute Affiliated To Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Liangliang Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Lei Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Daqing Chen
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
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Wang Y, Lv HQ, Chao X, Xu WX, Liu Y, Ling GX, Zhang P. Multimodal therapy strategies based on hydrogels for the repair of spinal cord injury. Mil Med Res 2022; 9:16. [PMID: 35410314 PMCID: PMC9003987 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-022-00376-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious traumatic disease of the central nervous system, which can give rise to the loss of motor and sensory function. Due to its complex pathological mechanism, the treatment of this disease still faces a huge challenge. Hydrogels with good biocompatibility and biodegradability can well imitate the extracellular matrix in the microenvironment of spinal cord. Hydrogels have been regarded as promising SCI repair material in recent years and continuous studies have confirmed that hydrogel-based therapy can effectively eliminate inflammation and promote spinal cord repair and regeneration to improve SCI. In this review, hydrogel-based multimodal therapeutic strategies to repair SCI are provided, and a combination of hydrogel scaffolds and other therapeutic modalities are discussed, with particular emphasis on the repair mechanism of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Hong-Qian Lv
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xuan Chao
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Wen-Xin Xu
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Gui-Xia Ling
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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Trehalose Augments Neuron Survival and Improves Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury via mTOR-Independent Activation of Autophagy. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:8898996. [PMID: 34336117 PMCID: PMC8289614 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8898996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major cause of irreversible nerve injury and leads to serious tissue loss and neurological dysfunction. Thorough investigation of cellular mechanisms, such as autophagy, is crucial for developing novel and effective therapeutics. We administered trehalose, an mTOR-independent autophagy agonist, in SCI rats suffering from moderate compression injury to elucidate the relationship between autophagy and SCI and evaluate trehalose's therapeutic potential. 60 rats were divided into 4 groups and were treated with either control vehicle, trehalose, chloroquine, or trehalose + chloroquine 2 weeks prior to administration of moderate spinal cord crush injury. 20 additional sham rats were treated with control vehicle. H&E staining, Nissl staining, western blot, and immunofluorescence studies were conducted to examine nerve morphology and quantify autophagy and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis at various time points after surgery. Functional recovery was assessed over a period of 4 weeks after surgery. Trehalose promotes autophagosome recruitment via an mTOR-independent pathway, enhances autophagy flux in neurons, inhibits apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondria-dependent pathway, reduces lesion cavity expansion, decreases neuron loss, and ultimately improves functional recovery following SCI (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, these effects were diminished upon administration of chloroquine, an autophagy flux inhibitor, indicating that trehalose's beneficial effects were due largely to activation of autophagy. This study presents new evidence that autophagy plays a critical neuroprotective and neuroregenerative role in SCI, and that mTOR-independent activation of autophagy with trehalose leads to improved outcomes. Thus, trehalose has great translational potential as a novel therapeutic agent after SCI.
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