Upregulation of Apol8 by Epothilone D facilitates the neuronal relay of transplanted NSCs in spinal cord injury

Identification of additional body weight QTLs in the Berlin Fat Mouse BFMI861 lines using time series data

The Berlin Fat Mouse Inbred line (BFMI) is a model for obesity and metabolic syndrome. The sublines BFMI861-S1 and BFMI861-S2 differ in weight despite high genetic similarity and a shared obesity-related locus. This study focused on identifying additional body weight quantitative trait loci (QTLs) by analyzing weekly weight measurements in a male population of the advanced intercross line BFMI861-S1 x BFMI861-S2. QTL analysis, utilizing 200 selectively genotyped mice (GigaMUGA) and 197 males genotyped for top SNPs, revealed a genome-wide significant QTL on Chr 15 (68.46 to 81.40 Mb) for body weight between weeks 9 to 20. Notably, this QTL disappeared (weeks 21 to 23) and reappeared (weeks 24 and 25) coinciding with a diet change. Additionally, a significant body weight QTL on Chr 16 (3.89 to 22.79 Mb) was identified from weeks 6 to 25. Candidate genes, including Gpt, Cbx6, Apol6, Apol8, Sun2 (Chr 15) and Trap1, Rrn3, Mapk1 (Chr 16), were prioritized. This study unveiled two additional body weight QTLs, one of which is novel and responsive to diet changes. These findings illuminate genomic regions influencing weight in BFMI and emphasize the utility of time series data in uncovering novel genetic factors.

The Janus-faced functions of Apolipoproteins L in membrane dynamics

The functions of human Apolipoproteins L (APOLs) are poorly understood, but involve diverse activities like lysis of bloodstream trypanosomes and intracellular bacteria, modulation of viral infection and induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and chronic kidney disease. Based on recent work, I propose that the basic function of APOLs is the control of membrane dynamics, at least in the Golgi and mitochondrion. Together with neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS1) and calneuron-1 (CALN1), APOL3 controls the activity of phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase-IIIB (PI4KB), involved in both Golgi and mitochondrion membrane fission. Whereas secreted APOL1 induces African trypanosome lysis through membrane permeabilization of the parasite mitochondrion, intracellular APOL1 conditions non-muscular myosin-2A (NM2A)-mediated transfer of PI4KB and APOL3 from the Golgi to the mitochondrion under conditions interfering with PI4KB-APOL3 interaction, such as APOL1 C-terminal variant expression or virus-induced inflammatory signalling. APOL3 controls mitophagy through complementary interactions with the membrane fission factor PI4KB and the membrane fusion factor vesicle-associated membrane protein-8 (VAMP8). In mice, the basic APOL1 and APOL3 activities could be exerted by mAPOL9 and mAPOL8, respectively. Perspectives regarding the mechanism and treatment of APOL1-related kidney disease are discussed, as well as speculations on additional APOLs functions, such as APOL6 involvement in adipocyte membrane dynamics through interaction with myosin-10 (MYH10).

Spinal cord injury: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a severe condition with an extremely high disability rate. The challenges of SCI repair include its complex pathological mechanisms and the difficulties of neural regeneration in the central nervous system. In the past few decades, researchers have attempted to completely elucidate the pathological mechanism of SCI and identify effective strategies to promote axon regeneration and neural circuit remodeling, but the results have not been ideal. Recently, new pathological mechanisms of SCI, especially the interactions between immune and neural cell responses, have been revealed by single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptome analysis. With the development of bioactive materials and stem cells, more attention has been focused on forming intermediate neural networks to promote neural regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction than on promoting axonal regeneration in the corticospinal tract. Furthermore, technologies to control physical parameters such as electricity, magnetism and ultrasound have been constantly innovated and applied in neural cell fate regulation. Among these advanced novel strategies and technologies, stem cell therapy, biomaterial transplantation, and electromagnetic stimulation have entered into the stage of clinical trials, and some of them have already been applied in clinical treatment. In this review, we outline the overall epidemiology and pathophysiology of SCI, expound on the latest research progress related to neural regeneration and circuit reconstruction in detail, and propose future directions for SCI repair and clinical applications.

Developmental stage of transplanted neural progenitor cells influences anatomical and functional outcomes after spinal cord injury in mice

Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for replacing lost neurons following spinal cord injury (SCI). However, how graft cellular composition influences regeneration and synaptogenesis of host axon populations, or recovery of motor and sensory functions after SCI, is poorly understood. We transplanted developmentally-restricted spinal cord NPCs, isolated from E11.5-E13.5 mouse embryos, into sites of adult mouse SCI and analyzed graft axon outgrowth, cellular composition, host axon regeneration, and behavior. Earlier-stage grafts exhibited greater axon outgrowth, enrichment for ventral spinal cord interneurons and Group-Z spinal interneurons, and enhanced host 5-HT+ axon regeneration. Later-stage grafts were enriched for late-born dorsal horn interneuronal subtypes and Group-N spinal interneurons, supported more extensive host CGRP+ axon ingrowth, and exacerbated thermal hypersensitivity. Locomotor function was not affected by any type of NPC graft. These findings showcase the role of spinal cord graft cellular composition in determining anatomical and functional outcomes following SCI.

The Improvement of Epothilone D Yield by the Disruption of epoK Gene in Sorangium cellulosum Using TALEN System

Epothilones are a kind of 16-member macrolides with strong anticancer activity, which was produced by Sorangium cellulosum. Epothlione D shows better drug resistance and safety than taxol in clinical trials. However, the low yield of epothilone D in Sorangium cellulosum and thereof toxicity limited the application of epothilone D. In this study, the epoK gene in gene cluster for epothilone was firstly inactivated by the employment of TALEN gene knockout system. The qRT-PCR analysis and sequencing were performed to confirm the gene deletion of epoK, resulting in the epothilone D yield improvement by 34.9±1.6% and the decrease of epothilone B yield by 34.2±2.5%, which was demonstrated by LC-MS analysis. This study would lay a foundation for the yield improvement of epothilones D, B and thereof derivatives in S. cellulosum by genetic engineering, thus promoting the applications of epothilones in the field of anticancer.

Advances in Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Safety, Efficacy, and Future Perspectives

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating central nervous system injury that leads to severe disabilities in motor and sensory functions, causing significant deterioration in patients' quality of life. Owing to the complexity of SCI pathophysiology, there has been no effective treatment for reversing neural tissue damage and recovering neurological functions. Several novel therapies targeting different stages of pathophysiological mechanisms of SCI have been developed. Among these, treatments using stem cells have great potential for the regeneration of damaged neural tissues. In this review, we have summarized recent preclinical and clinical studies focusing on neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs are multipotent cells with specific differentiation capabilities for neural lineage. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated the regenerative effects of transplanted NSCs in SCI animal models through both paracrine effects and direct neuronal differentiation, restoring synaptic connectivity and neural networks. Based on the positive results of several preclinical studies, phase I and II clinical trials using NSCs have been performed. Despite several hurdles and issues that need to be addressed in the clinical use of NSCs in patients with SCI, gradual progress in the technical development and therapeutic efficacy of NSCs treatments has enhanced the prospects for cell-based treatments in SCI.

Catalpol as a Component of Rehmannia glutinosa Protects Spinal Cord Injury by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis

Disturbance of the internal environment in the spinal cord after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important cause of the massive death of neurons in the injury area and one of the major problems that lead to the difficult recovery of motor function in patients. Rehmannia glutinosa, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used in neurodegenerative diseases, whereas an iridoid glycoside extract of catalpol (CAT), with antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and neuroprotective pharmacological effects. However, the neuroprotective and anti-apoptosis mechanism of CAT in SCI remains unclear. In our study, we found that CAT has a restorative effect on the lower limb motor function of rats with SCI by establishing a rat model of SCI and treating CAT gavage for 30 days. Our study further found that CAT has the effect of inhibiting apoptosis and protecting neurons, and the action pathway may reduce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by inhibiting CHOP and GRP78 expression and then reduce apoptosis and protect neurons through the Caspase3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CAT can treat SCI by inhibiting ER stress-mediated neuronal apoptosis and has the potential to be a clinical drug for the treatment of SCI.