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Olaya AMS, Almeida FM, Martinez AMB, Marques SA. Treatment of spinal cord injury with biomaterials and stem cell therapy in non-human primates and humans. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:343-353. [PMID: 38819038 PMCID: PMC11317961 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01752] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions, which almost always produces permanent physical disability. Thus, in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years, which are not entirely efficient, researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach, seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury. Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and, consequently, boosting functional recovery. Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents, there is increasing recognition of the importance, and need, of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans. This article is a literature review from databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier, Scielo, Redalyc, Cochrane, and NCBI) from 10 years ago to date, using keywords (spinal cord injury, cell therapy, non-human primates, humans, and bioengineering in spinal cord injury). From 110 retrieved articles, after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were analyzed. Thus, this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans, aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Milena Silva Olaya
- PhD Program in Pathological Anatomy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Maria Blanco Martinez
- Graduate Program in Pathological Anatomy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Suelen Adriani Marques
- Graduate Program in Pathological Anatomy (PPGAP/UFRJ), Department of Neurobiology/Institute of Biology, Campus do Gragoatá, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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2
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Lv Y, Ji L, Dai H, Qiu S, Wang Y, Teng C, Yu B, Mi D, Yao C. Identification of key regulatory genes involved in myelination after spinal cord injury by GSEA analysis. Exp Neurol 2024; 382:114966. [PMID: 39326824 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114966] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 08/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Multilayer dense myelin tissue provides insulating space and nutritional support for axons in healthy spinal cord tissue. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are the main glial cells that complement myelin loss in the central nervous system and play an important role in the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the regulation of axonal remyelination after SCI is still insufficient. In this study, we focused on the changes in genes related to myelin repair after rat hemisection SCI by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Key genes proteolipid protein 1 (Plp1), hexosaminidase subunit alpha (Hexa), and hexosaminidase subunit beta (Hexb) during remyelination after SCI were found. Through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments, we confirmed that within 28 days after rat hemisection SCI, the mRNA expression of gene Plp1 gradually decreased, while the expressions of gene Hexa and Hexb gradually increased, which was consistent with RNA sequencing results. In vitro, we performed EdU proliferation assays on OPC cell line OLN-93 and primary rat OPCs. We found that interference of Plp1 promoted OPC proliferation, while interference of Hexa and Hexb inhibited OPC proliferation. In addition, we performed in vitro differentiation experiments on primary rat OPCs. By measuring myelin sheath branch outgrowth and the fluorescence intensity of the mature myelin sheath marker myelin basic protein (MBP), we found that interference of Hexa or Hexb promoted OPC differentiation and maturation, but interference of Plp1 inhibited this process. Finally, we injected Hexb siRNA in vivo and found that interfering Hexb could improve motor movements and myelin regeneration after SCI in rats. Our results provide new target genes that can selectively regulate the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous OPCs, providing new ideas for promoting remyelination and functional recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehua Lv
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingyun Ji
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Dai
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanru Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng Teng
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Daguo Mi
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chun Yao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Medical School, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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Wang CH, Lin GC, Fu RH, Huang YC, Chen SY, Lin SZ, Harn HJ, Shyu WC, Huang YF, Jeng LB, Liu SP. Neural stem cells derived from α-synuclein-knockdown iPS cells alleviate Parkinson's disease. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:407. [PMID: 39285205 PMCID: PMC11405526 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02176-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have the potential to replace damaged or defective cells and assist in the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease. iPS cells derived from patient-specific somatic cells are not only ethically acceptable, but they also avoid complications relating to immune rejection. Currently, researchers are developing stem cell-based therapies for PD using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells can differentiate into cells from any of the three germ layers, including neural stem cells (NSCs). Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is an emerging therapy for treating neurological disorders by restoring neuronal function. Nevertheless, there are still challenges associated with the quality and source of neural stem cells. This issue can be addressed by genetically edited iPS cells. In this study, shRNA was used to knock down the expression of mutant α-synuclein (SNCA) in iPS cells that were generated from SNCA A53T transgenic mice, and these iPS cells were differentiated to NSCs. After injecting these NSCs into SNCA A53T mice, the therapeutic effects of these cells were evaluated. We found that the transplantation of neural stem cells produced from SNCA A53T iPS cells with knocking down SNCA not only improved SNCA A53T mice coordination abilities, balance abilities, and locomotor activities but also significantly prolonged their lifespans. The results of this study suggest an innovative therapeutic approach that combines stem cell therapy and gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chie-Hong Wang
- Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Cyun Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
| | - Ru-Huei Fu
- Ph.D. Program for Aging, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuen Huang
- Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yin Chen
- Genetics Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Zong Lin
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Bioinnovation Center, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, 970, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Hualien, 970, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Jyh Harn
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Bioinnovation Center, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, 970, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970, Taiwan
| | - Woei-Cherng Shyu
- Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fang Huang
- Department of General Dentistry, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, 333, Taiwan
- School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, 333, Taiwan
| | - Long-Bin Jeng
- Cell Therapy Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ping Liu
- Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan.
- Ph.D. Program for Aging, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 411, Taiwan.
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
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4
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He Y, Xu Z, He Y, Liu J, Li J, Wang S, Xiao L. Preventing production of new oligodendrocytes impairs remyelination and sustains behavioural deficits after demyelination. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 733:150592. [PMID: 39213705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150592] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Damage to oligodendrocytes (OLs) and myelin sheaths (demyelination) has been shown to be associated with numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Remyelination is a rare and reliable regenerative response that occurs in the central nervous system (CNS). It is generally believed that OL progenitor cells (OPCs) are the cell source to generate new OLs to remyelinate the demyelinated axons. However, several recent studies have argued that pre-existing mature OLs that survive within the demyelinated area are responsible for remyelination. Here, by conditional knock-out (KO) of a transcription factor gene that is essential for OPC differentiation, namely myelin regulatory factor (Myrf), to block the production of adult new OLs and examined its effect on remyelination after cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination. We found that OPCs specific Myrf cKO mice show dramatic impairment in remyelination after 4 weeks of recovery from 5 weeks of CPZ diet and they leave over significant behavioral deficits such as anxiety-like behavior, decreased motor skills, and impaired memory compared to control mice that have recovered for the same time. Our data support the idea that OPCs are the major cell sources for myelin regeneration, suggesting that targeting the activation of OPCs and promoting their differentiation to boost new OLs production is critical for therapeutic intervention for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zhengtao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Yongxiang He
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Junhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jiong Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Shuming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Lin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences of Ministry of Education, Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
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5
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Bingnan W, Jiao T, Ghorbani A, Baghei S. Enhancing regenerative potential: A comprehensive review of stem cell transplantation for sports-related neuronal injuries, with a focus on spinal cord injuries and peripheral nervous system damage. Tissue Cell 2024; 88:102429. [PMID: 38833939 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal injuries, as one of the consequences of sports-related incidents, exert a profound influence on the athletes' future, potentially leading to complete immobility and impeding their athletic pursuits. In cases of severe damage inflicted upon the spinal cord (SC) and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), the regenerative process is notably compromised, rendering it essentially inefficient. Among the pivotal therapeutic approaches for the enhancement and prevention of secondary SC injuries (SCI), stem cell transplantation (SCT) stands out prominently. Stem cells, whether directly involved in replacement and reconstruction or indirectly through modification and secretion of crucial bioenvironmental factors, engage in the intricate process of tissue regeneration. Stem cells, through the secretion of neurotrophic factors (NTFs) (aiming to modulate the immune system), reduction of inflammation, axonal growth stimulation, and myelin formation, endeavor to facilitate the regeneration of damaged SC tissue. The fundamental challenges of this approach encompass the proper selection of suitable stem cell candidates for transplantation and the establishment of an appropriate microenvironment conducive to SC repair. In this article, an attempt has been made to explore sports-related injuries, particularly SCI, to comprehensively review innovative methods for treating SCI, and to address the existing challenges. Additionally, some of the stem cells used in neural injuries and the process of their utilization have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Bingnan
- Department of P.E, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Tong Jiao
- The High School Attached to Hunan Normal University Bocai Experimental Middle School,Changsha 410208, China.
| | - A Ghorbani
- Biotechnology Department, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sh Baghei
- Biotechnology Department, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
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6
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Hashimoto S, Nagoshi N, Nakamura M, Okano H. Regenerative medicine strategies for chronic complete spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:818-824. [PMID: 37843217 PMCID: PMC10664101 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a condition in which the parenchyma of the spinal cord is damaged by trauma or various diseases. While rapid progress has been made in regenerative medicine for spinal cord injury that was previously untreatable, most research in this field has focused on the early phase of incomplete injury. However, the majority of patients have chronic severe injuries; therefore, treatments for these situations are of fundamental importance. The reason why the treatment of complete spinal cord injury has not been studied is that, unlike in the early stage of incomplete spinal cord injury, there are various inhibitors of neural regeneration. Thus, we assumed that it is difficult to address all conditions with a single treatment in chronic complete spinal cord injury and that a combination of several treatments is essential to target severe pathologies. First, we established a combination therapy of cell transplantation and drug-releasing scaffolds, which contributes to functional recovery after chronic complete transection spinal cord injury, but we found that functional recovery was limited and still needs further investigation. Here, for the further development of the treatment of chronic complete spinal cord injury, we review the necessary approaches to the different pathologies based on our findings and the many studies that have been accumulated to date and discuss, with reference to the literature, which combination of treatments is most effective in achieving functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Hashimoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Zhang Y, Song Z, Wu R, Kong X, Zhang H, Li S, Gong X, Gong S, Cheng J, Yuan F, Wu H, Wang S, Yuan Z. PRRC2B modulates oligodendrocyte progenitor cell development and myelination by stabilizing Sox2 mRNA. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113930. [PMID: 38507412 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) differentiate into myelin-producing cells and modulate neuronal activity. Defects in OPC development are associated with neurological diseases. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) contributes to neural development; however, the mechanism by which m6A regulates OPC development remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PRRC2B is an m6A reader that regulates OPC development and myelination. Nestin-Cre-mediated Prrc2b deletion affects neural stem cell self-renewal and glial differentiation. Moreover, the oligodendroglia lineage-specific deletion of Prrc2b reduces the numbers of OPCs and oligodendrocytes, causing hypomyelination and impaired motor coordination. Integrative methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA sequencing, and RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses identify Sox2 as the target of PRRC2B. Notably, PRRC2B, displaying separate and cooperative functions with PRRC2A, stabilizes mRNA by binding to m6A motifs in the coding sequence and 3' UTR of Sox2. In summary, we identify the posttranscriptional regulation of PRRC2B in OPC development, extending the understanding of PRRC2 family proteins and providing a therapeutic target for myelin-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zhihong Song
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xiangxi Kong
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Hongye Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shuoshuo Li
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China; School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xuanwei Gong
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shenghui Gong
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jinbo Cheng
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Neurology (Hebei Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Haitao Wu
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Shukun Wang
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Zengqiang Yuan
- Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China.
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Rogujski P, Lukomska B, Janowski M, Stanaszek L. Glial-restricted progenitor cells: a cure for diseased brain? Biol Res 2024; 57:8. [PMID: 38475854 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00486-1] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is home to neuronal and glial cells. Traditionally, glia was disregarded as just the structural support across the brain and spinal cord, in striking contrast to neurons, always considered critical players in CNS functioning. In modern times this outdated dogma is continuously repelled by new evidence unravelling the importance of glia in neuronal maintenance and function. Therefore, glia replacement has been considered a potentially powerful therapeutic strategy. Glial progenitors are at the center of this hope, as they are the source of new glial cells. Indeed, sophisticated experimental therapies and exciting clinical trials shed light on the utility of exogenous glia in disease treatment. Therefore, this review article will elaborate on glial-restricted progenitor cells (GRPs), their origin and characteristics, available sources, and adaptation to current therapeutic approaches aimed at various CNS diseases, with particular attention paid to myelin-related disorders with a focus on recent progress and emerging concepts. The landscape of GRP clinical applications is also comprehensively presented, and future perspectives on promising, GRP-based therapeutic strategies for brain and spinal cord diseases are described in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rogujski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Lukomska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Janowski
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luiza Stanaszek
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
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Su H, Luo H, Wang Y, Zhao Q, Zhang Q, Zhu Y, Pan L, Liu Y, Yang C, Yin Y, Tan B. Myelin repair of spinal cord injury in adult mice induced by treadmill training upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha. Glia 2024; 72:607-624. [PMID: 38031815 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24493] [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: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence has proven the efficacy of physical exercise in remyelination and motor function performance after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the molecular mechanisms of treadmill training on myelin repair and functional recovery after SCI have not yet been fully studied. Here, we explored the effect of treadmill training on upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α)-mediated myelin repair and functional recovery in a mouse model of thoracic T10 contusion injury. A 4-week treadmill training scheme was conducted on mice with SCI. The expression levels of oligodendrogenesis-related protein and PGC1α were detected by immunofluorescence, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization and western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe myelin structure. The Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) and CatWalk automated gait analysis system were used for motor function recovery evaluation. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were also identified. In addition, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated PGC1α knockdown in OLs was used to further unravel the role of PGC1α in exercise-induced remyelination. We found that treadmill training boosts oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) proliferation, potentiates oligodendrocytes (OLs) maturation, and increases myelin-related protein and myelin sheath thickness, thus impelling myelin repair and hindlimb functional performance as well as the speed and amplitude of nerve conduction after SCI. Additionally, downregulating PGC1α through AAV attenuated these positive effects of treadmill training. Collectively, our results suggest that treadmill training enhances remyelination and functional recovery by upregulating PGC1α, which should provide a step forward in the understanding of the effects of physical exercise on myelin repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Su
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haodong Luo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunhang Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injuries, Department of Special Environment War Wound Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu Pan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injuries, Department of Special Environment War Wound Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Ce Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injuries, Department of Special Environment War Wound Prevention and Treatment, Institute of Surgery Research, Army Medical Center of PLA, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Botao Tan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Bang WS, Han I, Mun SA, Hwang JM, Noh SH, Son W, Cho DC, Kim BJ, Kim CH, Choi H, Kim KT. Electrical stimulation promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury by activating endogenous spinal cord-derived neural stem/progenitor cell: an in vitro and in vivo study. Spine J 2024; 24:534-553. [PMID: 37871660 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.10.004] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Electrical stimulation is a noninvasive treatment method that has gained popularity in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Activation of spinal cord-derived neural stem/progenitor cell (SC-NSPC) proliferation and differentiation in the injured spinal cord may elicit considerable neural regenerative effects. PURPOSE This study aimed to explore the effect of electrical stimulation on the neurogenesis of SC-NSPCs. STUDY DESIGN This study analyzed the effects of electrical stimulation on neurogenesis in rodent SC-NSPCs in vitro and in vivo and evaluated functional recovery and neural circuitry improvements with electrical stimulation using a rodent SCI model. METHODS Rats (20 rats/group) were assigned to sham (Group 1), SCI only (Group 2), SCI + electrode implant without stimulation (Group 3), and SCI + electrode with stimulation (Group 4) groups to count total SC-NSPCs and differentiated neurons and to evaluate morphological changes in differentiated neurons. Furthermore, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were analyzed, and the motor- and somatosensory-evoked potentials in all rats were monitored. RESULTS Biphasic electrical currents enhanced SC-NSPC proliferation differentiation and caused qualitative morphological changes in differentiated neurons in vitro. Electrical stimulation promoted SC-NSPC proliferation and neuronal differentiation and improved functional outcomes and neural circuitry in SCI models. Increased Wnt3, Wnt7, and β-catenin protein levels were also observed after electrical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Our study proved the beneficial effects of electrical stimulation on SCI. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation may be associated with this relationship between electrical stimulation and neuronal regeneration after SCI. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The study confirmed the benefits of electrical stimulation on SCI based on cellular, functional, electrophysiological, and histological evidence. Based on these findings, we expect electrical stimulation to make a positive and significant difference in SCI treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Seok Bang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Topspine Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Inbo Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seul-Ah Mun
- Department. of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong-Moon Hwang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Hyun Noh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Wonsoo Son
- Department. of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dae-Chul Cho
- Department. of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Byoung-Joon Kim
- Department. of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chi Heon Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyuk Choi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyoung-Tae Kim
- Department. of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Lavaee F, Didar S, Afshari A. Evaluation of the serum level of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, and testosterone in patients with trigeminal neuralgia compared to a healthy population. Clin Exp Dent Res 2023; 9:1200-1205. [PMID: 38018289 PMCID: PMC10728518 DOI: 10.1002/cre2.815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of this study is to measure and compare the hormonal serum levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) in trigeminal neuroglia (TN) menopausal women and healthy women. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional and case-control study was performed in 2018 and 2019. For this study, menopausal women with confirmed TN were enrolled. Twenty-two healthy women in the control group and 19 in the case group participated. Blood samples were taken from participants for assessment of hormonal serum levels (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, DHT). Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Mann-Whitney, T-test, kormography test, nonmetric, χ2 test, and odds ratios have been used. RESULTS In patients with TN, the serum level of testosterone was significantly higher (p = .036), and the serum level of prolactin (p = .016) was significantly lower. Other evaluated hormones' serum level was identical in the two groups. Patients with abnormal estrogen levels were more in the TN group in comparison with the healthy group. The abnormality of progesterone in TN patients was more in comparison to the healthy control group. CONCLUSIONS Estrogen and progesterone serum levels in TN patients are higher in comparison with the healthy group, while prolactin and testosterone serum levels are lower in the control group. Moreover, the DHE serum level is similar in both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Lavaee
- Oral and Maxillofacial Disease Department, Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, School of DentistryShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
| | - Sahar Didar
- Student Research Committee, School of DentistryShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
| | - Aylar Afshari
- Student Research Committee, School of DentistryShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
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12
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Shumilov K, Xiao S, Ni A, Celorrio M, Friess SH. Recombinant Erythropoietin Induces Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Proliferation After Traumatic Brain Injury and Delayed Hypoxemia. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1859-1874. [PMID: 37768487 PMCID: PMC10684442 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01443-8] [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] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in axonal loss and demyelination, leading to persistent damage in the white matter. Demyelinated axons are vulnerable to pathologies related to an abnormal myelin structure that expose neurons to further damage. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) mediate remyelination after recruitment to the injury site. Often this process is inefficient due to inadequate OPC proliferation. To date, no effective treatments are currently available to stimulate OPC proliferation in TBI. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is a pleiotropic neuroprotective cytokine, and its receptor is present in all stages of oligodendroglial lineage cell differentiation. Therefore, we hypothesized that rhEPO administration would enhance remyelination after TBI through the modulation of OPC response. Utilizing a murine model of controlled cortical impact and a primary OPC culture in vitro model, we characterized the impact of rhEPO on remyelination and proliferation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Myelin black gold II staining of the peri-contusional corpus callosum revealed an increase in myelinated area in association with an increase in BrdU-positive oligodendrocytes in injured mice treated with rhEPO. Furthermore, morphological analysis of OPCs showed a decrease in process length in rhEPO-treated animals. RhEPO treatment increased OPC proliferation after in vitro CSPG exposure. Erythropoietin receptor (EPOr) gene knockdown using siRNA prevented rhEPO-induced OPC proliferation, demonstrating that the rhEPO effect on OPC response is EPOr activation dependent. Together, our findings demonstrate that rhEPO administration may promote myelination by increasing oligodendrocyte lineage cell proliferation after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Shumilov
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8208, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Sophia Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8208, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Allen Ni
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8208, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Marta Celorrio
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8208, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Stuart H Friess
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Campus Box 8208, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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13
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Pukos N, Marion CM, Arnold WD, Noble BT, Popovich PG, McTigue DM. Chronic demyelination and myelin repair after spinal cord injury in mice: A potential link for glutamatergic axon activity. Glia 2023; 71:2096-2116. [PMID: 37208933 PMCID: PMC10330449 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24382] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Our prior work examining endogenous repair after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice revealed that large numbers of new oligodendrocytes (OLs) are generated in the injured spinal cord, with peak oligodendrogenesis between 4 and 7 weeks post-injury (wpi). We also detected new myelin formation over 2 months post-injury (mpi). Our current work significantly extends these results, including quantification of new myelin through 6 mpi and concomitant examination of indices of demyelination. We also examined electrophysiological changes during peak oligogenesis and a potential mechanism driving OL progenitor cell (OPC) contact with axons. Results reveal peak in remyelination occurs during the 3rd mpi, and that myelin generation continues for at least 6 mpi. Further, motor evoked potentials significantly increased during peak remyelination, suggesting enhanced axon potential conduction. Interestingly, two indices of demyelination, nodal protein spreading and Nav1.2 upregulation, were also present chronically after SCI. Nav1.2 was expressed through 10 wpi and nodal protein disorganization was detectable throughout 6 mpi suggesting chronic demyelination, which was confirmed with EM. Thus, demyelination may continue chronically, which could trigger the long-term remyelination response. To examine a potential mechanism that may initiate post-injury myelination, we show that OPC processes contact glutamatergic axons in the injured spinal cord in an activity-dependent manner. Notably, these OPC/axon contacts were increased 2-fold when axons were activated chemogenetically, revealing a potential therapeutic target to enhance post-SCI myelin repair. Collectively, results show the surprisingly dynamic nature of the injured spinal cord over time and that the tissue may be amenable to treatments targeting chronic demyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Pukos
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Christina M Marion
- Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - W David Arnold
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Neurology, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Benjamin T Noble
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Phillip G Popovich
- Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dana M McTigue
- Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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14
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Dutta D, Pirolli NH, Levy D, Tsao J, Seecharan N, Wang Z, Xu X, Jia X, Jay SM. Differentiation state and culture conditions impact neural stem/progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicle bioactivity. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:5474-5489. [PMID: 37367824 PMCID: PMC10529403 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00340j] [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] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from neural progenitor/stem cells (NPSCs) have shown promising efficacy in a variety of preclinical models. However, NPSCs lack critical neuroregenerative functionality such as myelinating capacity. Further, culture conditions used in NPSC EV production lack standardization, limiting reproducibility challenging and potentially potency of the overall approach via lack of optimization. Here, we assessed whether oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and immature oligodendrocytes (iOLs), which are further differentiated than NPSCs and which both give rise to mature myelinating oligodendrocytes, could yield EVs with neurotherapeutic properties comparable or superior to those from NPSCs. We additionally examined the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) coating materials and the presence or absence of growth factors in cell culture on the ultimate properties of EVs. The data show that OPC EVs and iOL EVs performed similarly to NPSC EVs in cell proliferation and anti-inflammatory assays, but NPSC EVs performed better in a neurite outgrowth assay. Additionally, the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) in culture was found to maximize NPSC EV bioactivity among the conditions tested. NPSC EVs produced under rationally-selected culture conditions (fibronectin + NGF) enhanced axonal regeneration and muscle reinnervation in a rat nerve crush injury model. These results highlight the need for standardization of culture conditions for neurotherapeutic NPSC EV production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankar Dutta
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Nicholas H Pirolli
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Daniel Levy
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Nicholas Seecharan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Zihui Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Xiang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Xiaofeng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven M Jay
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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15
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Hirota R, Sasaki M, Honmou O, Yamashita T. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury: Current Status and Prospects. Spine Surg Relat Res 2023; 7:319-326. [PMID: 37636138 PMCID: PMC10447197 DOI: 10.22603/ssrr.2022-0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the 1990s, our group has been conducting basic research on regenerative medicine using various cell types to treat several central nervous system diseases, including spinal cord injury (SCI). We have reported many positive effects of the intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the bone marrow. In the current study, MSCs were administered intravenously to a rat model of severe SCI (crush injury) during the acute to subacute stages-considerable motor function recovery was observed. Furthermore, MSC transplantation in a chronic-phase SCI model improved motor function. In this review, we discuss recent updates in basic research on the intravenous infusion of MSCs and prospects for SCI research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Hirota
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
- Department of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masanori Sasaki
- Department of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Osamu Honmou
- Department of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Yamashita
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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16
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Vangansewinkel T, Lemmens S, Tiane A, Geurts N, Dooley D, Vanmierlo T, Pejler G, Hendrix S. Therapeutic administration of mouse mast cell protease 6 improves functional recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury in mice by promoting remyelination and reducing glial scar formation. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22939. [PMID: 37130013 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201942rr] [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: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) most often leads to permanent paralysis due to the inability of axons to regenerate in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). In the past, we have shown that mast cells (MCs) improve the functional outcome after SCI by suppressing scar tissue formation at the lesion site via mouse mast cell protease 6 (mMCP6). In this study, we investigated whether recombinant mMCP6 can be used therapeutically to improve the functional outcome after SCI. Therefore, we applied mMCP6 locally via an intrathecal catheter in the subacute phase after a spinal cord hemisection injury in mice. Our findings showed that hind limb motor function was significantly improved in mice that received recombinant mMCP6 compared with the vehicle-treated group. In contrast to our previous findings in mMCP6 knockout mice, the lesion size and expression levels of the scar components fibronectin, laminin, and axon-growth-inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans were not affected by the treatment with recombinant mMCP6. Surprisingly, no difference in infiltration of CD4+ T cells and reactivity of Iba-1+ microglia/macrophages at the lesion site was observed between the mMCP6-treated mice and control mice. Additionally, local protein levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFNγ, and MCP-1 were comparable between the two treatment groups, indicating that locally applied mMCP6 did not affect inflammatory processes after injury. However, the increase in locomotor performance in mMCP6-treated mice was accompanied by reduced demyelination and astrogliosis in the perilesional area after SCI. Consistently, we found that TNF-α/IL-1β-astrocyte activation was decreased and that oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) differentiation was increased after recombinant mMCP6 treatment in vitro. Mechanistically, this suggests effects of mMCP6 on reducing astrogliosis and improving (re)myelination in the spinal cord after injury. In conclusion, these data show for the first time that recombinant mMCP6 is therapeutically active in enhancing recovery after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Vangansewinkel
- Cardio and Organ Systems, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Lemmens
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Assia Tiane
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Geurts
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dearbhaile Dooley
- School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
- UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Tim Vanmierlo
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University MS Center (UMSC) Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Skidmore S, Barker RA. Challenges in the clinical advancement of cell therapies for Parkinson's disease. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:370-386. [PMID: 36635420 PMCID: PMC7615223 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapies as potential treatments for Parkinson's disease first gained traction in the 1980s, owing to the clinical success of trials that used transplants of foetal midbrain dopaminergic tissue. However, the poor standardization of the tissue for grafting, and constraints on its availability and ethical use, have hindered this treatment strategy. Recent advances in stem-cell technologies and in the understanding of the development of dopaminergic neurons have enabled preclinical advancements of promising stem-cell therapies. To move these therapies to the clinic, appropriate levels of safety screening, as well as optimization of the cell products and the scalability of their manufacturing, will be required. In this Review, we discuss how challenges pertaining to cell sources, functional and safety testing, manufacturing and storage, and clinical-trial design are being addressed to advance the translational and clinical development of cell therapies for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Skidmore
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger A Barker
- Wellcome and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, For vie Site, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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Hashimoto S, Nagoshi N, Shinozaki M, Nakanishi K, Suematsu Y, Shibata T, Kawai M, Kitagawa T, Ago K, Kamata Y, Yasutake K, Koya I, Ando Y, Minoda A, Shindo T, Shibata S, Matsumoto M, Nakamura M, Okano H. Microenvironmental modulation in tandem with human stem cell transplantation enhances functional recovery after chronic complete spinal cord injury. Biomaterials 2023; 295:122002. [PMID: 36736008 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
While rapid advancements in regenerative medicine strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI) have been made, most research in this field has focused on the early stages of incomplete injury. However, the majority of patients experience chronic severe injury; therefore, treatments for these situations are fundamentally important. Here, we hypothesized that environmental modulation via a clinically relevant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-releasing scaffold and human iPS cell-derived neural stem/progenitor cells (hNS/PCs) transplantation contributes to functional recovery after chronic complete transection SCI. Effective release of HGF from a collagen scaffold induced progressive axonal elongation and increased grafted cell viability by activating microglia/macrophages and meningeal cells, inhibiting inflammation, reducing scar formation, and enhancing vascularization. Furthermore, hNS/PCs transplantation enhanced endogenous neuronal regrowth, the extension of graft axons, and the formation of circuits around the lesion and lumbar enlargement between host and graft neurons, resulting in the restoration of locomotor and urinary function. This study presents an effective therapeutic strategy for severe chronic SCI and provides evidence for the feasibility of regenerative medicine strategies using clinically relevant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Hashimoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Munehisa Shinozaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki Nakanishi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yu Suematsu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shibata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Momotaro Kawai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kitagawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ago
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kaori Yasutake
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ikuko Koya
- Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yoshinari Ando
- Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Aki Minoda
- Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shindo
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shibata
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Division of Microscopic Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Morio Matsumoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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19
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Szlachcic WJ, Letai KC, Scavuzzo MA, Borowiak M. Deep into the niche: Deciphering local endoderm-microenvironment interactions in development, homeostasis, and disease of pancreas and intestine. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200186. [PMID: 36871153 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Unraveling molecular and functional heterogeneity of niche cells within the developing endoderm could resolve mechanisms of tissue formation and maturation. Here, we discuss current unknowns in molecular mechanisms underlying key developmental events in pancreatic islet and intestinal epithelial formation. Recent breakthroughs in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, paralleled with functional studies in vitro, reveal that specialized mesenchymal subtypes drive the formation and maturation of pancreatic endocrine cells and islets via local interactions with epithelium, neurons, and microvessels. Analogous to this, distinct intestinal niche cells regulate both epithelial development and homeostasis throughout life. We propose how this knowledge can be used to progress research in the human context using pluripotent stem cell-derived multilineage organoids. Overall, understanding the interactions between the multitude of microenvironmental cells and how they drive tissue development and function could help us make more therapeutically relevant in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech J Szlachcic
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Katherine C Letai
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Marissa A Scavuzzo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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20
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McCaughey-Chapman A, Connor B. Cell reprogramming for oligodendrocytes: A review of protocols and their applications to disease modeling and cell-based remyelination therapies. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1000-1028. [PMID: 36749877 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cells that produce a lipid-rich membrane called myelin. Myelin assembles into a sheath and lines neuronal axons in the brain and spinal cord to insulate them. This not only increases the speed and efficiency of nerve signal transduction but also protects the axons from damage and degradation, which could trigger neuronal cell death. Demyelination, which is caused by a loss of myelin and oligodendrocytes, is a prominent feature of many neurological conditions, including Multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injuries (SCI), and leukodystrophies. Demyelination is followed by a time of remyelination mediated by the recruitment of endogenous oligodendrocyte precursor cells, their migration to the injury site, and differentiation into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. Unfortunately, endogenous remyelination is not sufficient to overcome demyelination, which explains why there are to date no regenerative-based treatments for MS, SCI, or leukodystrophies. To better understand the role of oligodendrocytes and develop cell-based remyelination therapies, human oligodendrocytes have been derived from somatic cells using cell reprogramming. This review will detail the different cell reprogramming methods that have been developed to generate human oligodendrocytes and their applications to disease modeling and cell-based remyelination therapies. Recent developments in the field have seen the derivation of brain organoids from pluripotent stem cells, and protocols have been devised to incorporate oligodendrocytes within the organoids, which will also be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy McCaughey-Chapman
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bronwen Connor
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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21
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Zheng B, Tuszynski MH. Regulation of axonal regeneration after mammalian spinal cord injury. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:396-413. [PMID: 36604586 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
One hundred years ago, Ramón y Cajal, considered by many as the founder of modern neuroscience, stated that neurons of the adult central nervous system (CNS) are incapable of regenerating. Yet, recent years have seen a tremendous expansion of knowledge in the molecular control of axon regeneration after CNS injury. We now understand that regeneration in the adult CNS is limited by (1) a failure to form cellular or molecular substrates for axon attachment and elongation through the lesion site; (2) environmental factors, including inhibitors of axon growth associated with myelin and the extracellular matrix; (3) astrocyte responses, which can both limit and support axon growth; and (4) intraneuronal mechanisms controlling the establishment of an active cellular growth programme. We discuss these topics together with newly emerging hypotheses, including the surprising finding from transcriptomic analyses of the corticospinal system in mice that neurons revert to an embryonic state after spinal cord injury, which can be sustained to promote regeneration with neural stem cell transplantation. These gains in knowledge are steadily advancing efforts to develop effective treatment strategies for spinal cord injury in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binhai Zheng
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,VA San Diego Research Service, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Mark H Tuszynski
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,VA San Diego Research Service, San Diego, CA, USA.
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22
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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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23
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Park YM, Kim JH, Lee JE. Neural Stem Cells Overexpressing Arginine Decarboxylase Improve Functional Recovery from Spinal Cord Injury in a Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415784. [PMID: 36555425 PMCID: PMC9779865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI) cannot fully facilitate neural regeneration or improve function. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) synthesizes agmatine, an endogenous primary amine with neuroprotective effects. Transfection of human ADC (hADC) gene exerts protective effects after injury in murine brain-derived neural precursor cells (mNPCs). Following from these findings, we investigated the effects of hADC-mNPC transplantation in SCI model mice. Mice with experimentally damaged spinal cords were divided into three groups, separately transplanted with fluorescently labeled (1) control mNPCs, (2) retroviral vector (pLXSN)-infected mNPCs (pLXSN-mNPCs), and (3) hADC-mNPCs. Behavioral comparisons between groups were conducted weekly up to 6 weeks after SCI, and urine volume was measured up to 2 weeks after SCI. A subset of animals was euthanized each week after cell transplantation for molecular and histological analyses. The transplantation groups experienced significantly improved behavioral function, with the best recovery occurring in hADC-mNPC mice. Transplanting hADC-mNPCs improved neurological outcomes, induced oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination, increased neural lineage differentiation, and decreased glial scar formation. Moreover, locomotor and bladder function were both rehabilitated. These beneficial effects are likely related to differential BMP-2/4/7 expression in neuronal cells, providing an empirical basis for gene therapy as a curative SCI treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mi Park
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- BK 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- CHA Advanced Research Institute, CHA University, CHA Bio-Complex, 335, Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, CHA Bio-Complex, 335, Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si 13488, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hwan Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- BK 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Eun Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- BK 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2228-1646
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24
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Kim DH, Cho HJ, Park CY, Cho MS, Kim DW. Transplantation of PSA-NCAM-Positive Neural Precursors from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Promotes Functional Recovery in an Animal Model of Spinal Cord Injury. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 19:1349-1358. [PMID: 36036887 PMCID: PMC9679075 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-022-00483-z] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent impairment of motor and sensory functions at and below the lesion site. There is no therapeutic option to the functional recovery of SCI involving diverse injury responses of different cell types in the lesion that limit endogenous nerve regeneration. In this regard, cell replacement therapy utilizing stem cells or their derivatives has become a highly promising approach to promote locomotor recovery. For this reason, the demand for a safe and efficient multipotent cell source that can differentiate into various neural cells is increasing. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of human polysialylated-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM)-positive neural precursor cells (hNPCsPSA-NCAM+) as a treatment for SCI. METHODS One hundred thousand hNPCsPSA-NCAM+ isolated from human embryonic stem cell-derived NPCs were transplanted into the lesion site by microinjection 7 days after contusive SCI at the thoracic level. We examined the histological characteristics of the graft and behavioral improvement in the SCI rats 10 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS Locomotor activity improvement was estimated by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. Behavioral tests revealed that the transplantation of the hNPCsPSA-NCAM+ into the injured spinal cords of rats significantly improved locomotor function. Histological examination showed that hNPCsPSA-NCAM+ had differentiated into neural cells and successfully integrated into the host tissue with no evidence of tumor formation. We investigated cytokine expressions, which led to the early therapeutic effect of hNPCsPSA-NCAM+, and found that some undifferentiated NPCs still expressed midkine, a well-known neurotrophic factor involved in neural development and inflammatory responses, 10 weeks after transplantation. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that hNPCsPSA-NCAM+ serve as a safe and efficient cell source which has the potential to improve impaired motor function following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do-Hun Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Program for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd, 2nd Floor, 28 Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04797, South Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Cho
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd, 2nd Floor, 28 Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04797, South Korea
| | - Chul-Yong Park
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd, 2nd Floor, 28 Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04797, South Korea
| | - Myung Soo Cho
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd, 2nd Floor, 28 Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04797, South Korea.
| | - Dong-Wook Kim
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Program for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd, 2nd Floor, 28 Seongsui-ro 26-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04797, South Korea.
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25
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Fessler RG, Ehsanian R, Liu CY, Steinberg GK, Jones L, Lebkowski JS, Wirth ED, McKenna SL. A phase 1/2a dose-escalation study of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in individuals with subacute cervical spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 37:812-820. [PMID: 35901693 DOI: 10.3171/2022.5.spine22167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of 3 escalating doses of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (LCTOPC1; previously known as GRNOPC1 and AST-OPC1) administered at a single time point between 21 and 42 days postinjury to participants with subacute cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The secondary objective was to evaluate changes in neurological function following administration of LCTOPC1. METHODS This study was designed as an open-label, dose-escalation, multicenter clinical trial. Twenty-five participants with C4-7 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A or B injuries received a single dose of either 2 × 106, 1 × 107, or 2 × 107 LCTOPC1 delivered via intraparenchymal injection into the spinal cord at the site of injury using a custom-designed syringe positioning device. Low-dose tacrolimus was administered until day 60. Outcome measures included adverse event (AE) monitoring and neurological function as measured by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. RESULTS All 25 participants experienced at least one AE, with a total of 534 AEs (32 study-related vs 502 study-unrelated anticipated complications of SCI) reported at the completion of 1-year follow-up. There were 29 serious AEs reported. Two grade 3 serious AEs (CSF leak in one participant and a bacterial infection in another) were considered related to the injection procedure and to immunosuppression with tacrolimus, respectively. The CSF leakage resolved with sequelae, including self-limited altered mental status, and the infection resolved with antibiotic therapy. For all participants, MRI scans demonstrated no evidence of an enlarging mass, spinal cord damage related to the injection procedure, inflammatory lesions in the spinal cord, or masses in the ventricular system. At 1-year follow-up, 21/22 (96%) of the intention-to-treat group recovered one or more levels of neurological function on at least one side of their body, and 7/22 (32%) recovered two or more levels of neurological function on at least one side of their body. CONCLUSIONS LCTOPC1 can be safely administered to participants in the subacute period after cervical SCI. The injection procedure, low-dose temporary immunosuppression regimen, and LCTOPC1 were well tolerated. The safety and neurological function data support further investigation to determine the efficacy of LCTOPC1 in the treatment of SCI. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02302157 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Fessler
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Reza Ehsanian
- 2Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Charles Y Liu
- 3USC Neurorestoration Center, Los Angeles.,4Department of Neurological Surgery, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles.,5Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey
| | - Gary K Steinberg
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Linda Jones
- 7Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jane S Lebkowski
- 8Asterias Biotherapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Carlsbad.,9Regenerative Patch Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park
| | - Edward D Wirth
- 8Asterias Biotherapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Carlsbad.,10Aspen Neuroscience, San Diego; and
| | - Stephen L McKenna
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,11Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California
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26
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Kitagawa T, Nagoshi N, Okano H, Nakamura M. A Narrative Review of Advances in Neural Precursor Cell Transplantation Therapies for Spinal Cord Injury. Neurospine 2022; 19:935-945. [PMID: 36597632 PMCID: PMC9816589 DOI: 10.14245/ns.2244628.314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a destructive event that causes a permanent deficit in neurological function because of poor regenerative potential. Transplantation therapies have attracted attention for restoration of the injured spinal cord, and transplantation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) has been studied worldwide. Several groups have demonstrated functional recovery via this therapeutic intervention due to the multiple beneficial effects of NPC transplantation, such as reconstruction of neuronal circuits, remyelination of axons, and neuroprotection by trophic factors. Our group developed a method to induce NPCs from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and established a transplantation strategy for SCI. Functional improvement in SCI animals treated with hiPSC-NPCs was observed, and the safety of transplanting these cells was evaluated from multiple perspectives. With selection of a safe cell line and pretreatment of the cells to encourage maturation and differentiation, hiPSC-NPC transplantation therapy is now in the clinical phase of testing for subacute SCI. In addition, a research challenge will be to expand the efficacy of transplantation therapy for chronic SCI. More comprehensive strategies involving combination treatments are required to treat this problematic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Kitagawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Corresponding Author Narihito Nagoshi Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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27
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Wu Y, Tang Z, Zhang J, Wang Y, Liu S. Restoration of spinal cord injury: From endogenous repairing process to cellular therapy. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1077441. [PMID: 36523818 PMCID: PMC9744968 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1077441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts neurological pathways and impacts sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve function. There is no effective treatment for SCI currently. Numerous endogenous cells, including astrocytes, macrophages/microglia, and oligodendrocyte, are involved in the histological healing process following SCI. By interfering with cells during the SCI repair process, some advancements in the therapy of SCI have been realized. Nevertheless, the endogenous cell types engaged in SCI repair and the current difficulties these cells confront in the therapy of SCI are poorly defined, and the mechanisms underlying them are little understood. In order to better understand SCI and create new therapeutic strategies and enhance the clinical translation of SCI repair, we have comprehensively listed the endogenous cells involved in SCI repair and summarized the six most common mechanisms involved in SCI repair, including limiting the inflammatory response, protecting the spared spinal cord, enhancing myelination, facilitating neovascularization, producing neurotrophic factors, and differentiating into neural/colloidal cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shengwen Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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28
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Lima R, Monteiro A, Salgado AJ, Monteiro S, Silva NA. Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches for Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213833. [PMID: 36430308 PMCID: PMC9698625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition that disrupts motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Despite extensive research in the last decades, SCI continues to be a global health priority affecting thousands of individuals every year. The lack of effective therapeutic strategies for patients with SCI reflects its complex pathophysiology that leads to the point of no return in its function repair and regeneration capacity. Recently, however, several studies started to uncover the intricate network of mechanisms involved in SCI leading to the development of new therapeutic approaches. In this work, we present a detailed description of the physiology and anatomy of the spinal cord and the pathophysiology of SCI. Additionally, we provide an overview of different molecular strategies that demonstrate promising potential in the modulation of the secondary injury events that promote neuroprotection or neuroregeneration. We also briefly discuss other emerging therapies, including cell-based therapies, biomaterials, and epidural electric stimulation. A successful therapy might target different pathologic events to control the progression of secondary damage of SCI and promote regeneration leading to functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lima
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associated Laboratory, 4806-909 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associated Laboratory, 4806-909 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António J. Salgado
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associated Laboratory, 4806-909 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Susana Monteiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associated Laboratory, 4806-909 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno A. Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s Associate Laboratory, PT Government Associated Laboratory, 4806-909 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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29
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Hall A, Fortino T, Spruance V, Niceforo A, Harrop JS, Phelps PE, Priest CA, Zholudeva LV, Lane MA. Cell transplantation to repair the injured spinal cord. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 166:79-158. [PMID: 36424097 PMCID: PMC10008620 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hall
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Tara Fortino
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Victoria Spruance
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Division of Kidney, Urologic, & Hematologic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alessia Niceforo
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - James S Harrop
- Department of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Patricia E Phelps
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Lyandysha V Zholudeva
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Michael A Lane
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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30
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Saini R, Pahwa B, Agrawal D, Singh P, Gurjar H, Mishra S, Jagdevan A, Misra MC. Safety and feasibility of intramedullary injected bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in acute complete spinal cord injury: phase 1 trial. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 37:331-338. [PMID: 35395638 DOI: 10.3171/2022.2.spine211021] [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: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The intramedullary route holds the potential to provide the most concentration of stem cells in cases of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the safety and feasibility of this route need to be studied in human subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intramedullary injected bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in acute complete SCI. METHODS In this prospective study conducted over a 2-year period, 27 patients with acute (defined as within 1 week of injury) and complete SCI were randomized to receive BM-MSC or placebo through an intramedullary route intraoperatively at the time of spinal decompression and fusion. Institutional ethics approval was obtained, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Safety was assessed using laboratory and clinicoradiological parameters preoperatively and 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS A total of 180 patients were screened during the study period. Of these, 27 were enrolled in the study. Three patients withdrew, 3 patients were lost to follow-up, and 8 patients died, leaving a total of 13 patients for final analysis. Seven of these patients were in the stem cell group, and 6 were in the control group. Both groups were well matched in terms of sex, age, and weight. No adverse events related to stem cell injection were noted for laboratory and radiological parameters. Five patients in the control group and 3 patients in the stem cell group died during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Intramedullary injection of BM-MSCs was found to be safe and feasible for use in patients with acute complete SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renu Saini
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Bhavya Pahwa
- 2University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, India
| | - Deepak Agrawal
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Pankaj Singh
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Hitesh Gurjar
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Shashwat Mishra
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Aman Jagdevan
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
| | - Mahesh Chandra Misra
- 1Stem Cell & Translational Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, JPNA Trauma Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; and
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Prasse T, Hofstetter CP. Editorial. Unleashing embryonic stem cells for treatment of human spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 37:317-319. [PMID: 35364572 DOI: 10.3171/2022.1.spine211573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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McKenna SL, Ehsanian R, Liu CY, Steinberg GK, Jones L, Lebkowski JS, Wirth E, Fessler RG. Ten-year safety of pluripotent stem cell transplantation in acute thoracic spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 37:321-330. [PMID: 35364569 DOI: 10.3171/2021.12.spine21622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (LCTOPC1) derived from human pluripotent stem cells administered between 7 and 14 days postinjury to patients with T3 to T11 neurologically complete spinal cord injury (SCI). The rationale for this first-in-human trial was based on evidence that administration of LCTOPC1 supports survival and potential repair of key cellular components and architecture at the SCI site. METHODS This study was a multisite, open-label, single-arm interventional clinical trial. Participants (n = 5) received a single intraparenchymal injection of 2 × 106 LCTOPC1 caudal to the epicenter of injury using a syringe positioning device. Immunosuppression with tacrolimus was administered for a total of 60 days. Participants were followed with annual in-person examinations and MRI for 5 years at the time of this report and will be followed with annual telephone questionnaires for 6 to 15 years postinjection. The primary endpoint was safety, as measured by the frequency and severity of adverse events related to the LCTOPC1 injection, the injection procedure, and/or the concomitant immunosuppression administered. The secondary endpoint was neurological function as measured by sensory scores and lower-extremity motor scores as measured by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury examinations. RESULTS No unanticipated serious adverse events related to LCTOPC1 have been reported with 98% follow-up of participants (49 of 50 annual visits) through the first 10 years of the clinical trial. There was no evidence of neurological decline, enlarging masses, further spinal cord damage, or syrinx formation. MRI results during the long-term follow-up period in patients administered LCTOPC1 cells showed that 80% of patients demonstrated T2 signal changes consistent with the formation of a tissue matrix at the injury site. CONCLUSIONS This study provides crucial first-in-human safety data supporting the pursuit of future human embryonic stem cell-derived therapies. While we cannot exclude the possibility of future adverse events, the experience in this trial provides evidence that this cell type can be well tolerated by patients, with an event-free period of up to 10 years. Based on the safety profile of LCTOPC1 obtained in this study, a cervical dose escalation trial was initiated (NCT02302157).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L McKenna
- 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Reza Ehsanian
- 3Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Charles Y Liu
- 4USC Neurorestoration Center, Los Angeles, California
- 6Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, California
| | - Gary K Steinberg
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Linda Jones
- 7Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jane S Lebkowski
- 8Asterias Biotherapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Carlsbad, California
- 9Regenerative Patch Technologies, LLC, Menlo Park, California
| | - Edward Wirth
- 8Asterias Biotherapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Carlsbad, California
- 10Aspen Neuroscience, San Diego, California; and
| | - Richard G Fessler
- 11Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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Ago K, Nagoshi N, Imaizumi K, Kitagawa T, Kawai M, Kajikawa K, Shibata R, Kamata Y, Kojima K, Shinozaki M, Kondo T, Iwano S, Miyawaki A, Ohtsuka M, Bito H, Kobayashi K, Shibata S, Shindo T, Kohyama J, Matsumoto M, Nakamura M, Okano H. A non-invasive system to monitor in vivo neural graft activity after spinal cord injury. Commun Biol 2022; 5:803. [PMID: 35948599 PMCID: PMC9365819 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03736-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Expectations for neural stem/progenitor cell (NS/PC) transplantation as a treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) are increasing. However, whether and how grafted cells are incorporated into the host neural circuit and contribute to motor function recovery remain unknown. The aim of this project was to establish a novel non-invasive in vivo imaging system to visualize the activity of neural grafts by which we can simultaneously demonstrate the circuit-level integration between the graft and host and the contribution of graft neuronal activity to host behaviour. We introduced Akaluc, a newly engineered luciferase, under the control of enhanced synaptic activity-responsive element (E-SARE), a potent neuronal activity-dependent synthetic promoter, into NS/PCs and engrafted the cells into SCI model mice. Through the use of this system, we found that the activity of grafted cells was integrated with host behaviour and driven by host neural circuit inputs. This non-invasive system is expected to help elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of cell transplantation treatment for SCI. Visualisation of the activity of neural grafts using engineered luciferase provides insights into the integration between the graft and host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ago
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Kent Imaizumi
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kitagawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Momotaro Kawai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Keita Kajikawa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Reo Shibata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kota Kojima
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Munehisa Shinozaki
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kondo
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iwano
- Laboratory for Cell Function and Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyawaki
- Laboratory for Cell Function and Dynamics, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masanari Ohtsuka
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Bito
- Department of Neurochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Section of Viral Vector Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shibata
- Division of Microscopic Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan.,Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shindo
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Jun Kohyama
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Morio Matsumoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Liu T, Zhu W, Zhang X, He C, Liu X, Xin Q, Chen K, Wang H. Recent Advances in Cell and Functional Biomaterial Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:5079153. [PMID: 35978649 PMCID: PMC9377911 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5079153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating central nervous system disease caused by accidental events, resulting in loss of sensory and motor function. Considering the multiple effects of primary and secondary injuries after spinal cord injury, including oxidative stress, tissue apoptosis, inflammatory response, and neuronal autophagy, it is crucial to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, local microenvironment changes, and neural tissue functional recovery for preparing novel treatment strategies. Treatment based on cell transplantation has become the forefront of spinal cord injury therapy. The transplanted cells provide physical and nutritional support for the damaged tissue. At the same time, the implantation of biomaterials with specific biological functions at the site of the SCI has also been proved to improve the local inhibitory microenvironment and promote axonal regeneration, etc. The combined transplantation of cells and functional biomaterials for SCI treatment can result in greater neuroprotective and regenerative effects by regulating cell differentiation, enhancing cell survival, and providing physical and directional support for axon regeneration and neural circuit remodeling. This article reviews the pathophysiology of the spinal cord, changes in the microenvironment after injury, and the mechanisms and strategies for spinal cord regeneration and repair. The article will focus on summarizing and discussing the latest intervention models based on cell and functional biomaterial transplantation and the latest progress in combinational therapies in SCI repair. Finally, we propose the future prospects and challenges of current treatment regimens for SCI repair, to provide references for scientists and clinicians to seek better SCI repair strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Wenhao Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Xiaolong Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Qiang Xin
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Kexin Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Haifeng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
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He X, Yang L, Dong K, Zhang F, Liu Y, Ma B, Chen Y, Hai J, Zhu R, Cheng L. Biocompatible exosome-modified fibrin gel accelerates the recovery of spinal cord injury by VGF-mediated oligodendrogenesis. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:360. [PMID: 35918769 PMCID: PMC9344707 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01541-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes show potential for treating patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) in clinical practice, but the underlying repair mechanisms remain poorly understood, and biological scaffolds available for clinical transplantation of exosomes have yet to be explored. In the present study, we demonstrated the novel function of Gel-Exo (exosomes encapsulated in fibrin gel) in promoting behavioural and electrophysiological performance in mice with SCI, and the upregulated neural marker expression in the lesion site suggested enhanced neurogenesis by Gel-Exo. According to the RNA-seq results, Vgf (nerve growth factor inducible) was the key regulator through which Gel-Exo accelerated recovery from SCI. VGF is related to myelination and oligodendrocyte development according to previous reports. Furthermore, we found that VGF was abundant in exosomes, and Gel-Exo-treated mice with high VGF expression indeed showed increased oligodendrogenesis. VGF was also shown to promote oligodendrogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, and lentivirus-mediated VGF overexpression in the lesion site showed reparative effects equal to those of Gel-Exo treatment in vivo. These results suggest that Gel-Exo can thus be used as a biocompatible material for SCI repair, in which VGF-mediated oligodendrogenesis is the vital mechanism for functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolie He
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Yang
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Dong
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Bei Ma
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Youwei Chen
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Hai
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Zhu
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liming Cheng
- Orthopaedics Department of Tongji Hospital, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China.
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Gadot R, Smith DN, Prablek M, Grochmal JK, Fuentes A, Ropper AE. Established and Emerging Therapies in Acute Spinal Cord Injury. Neurospine 2022; 19:283-296. [PMID: 35793931 PMCID: PMC9260540 DOI: 10.14245/ns.2244176.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating for patients and their caretakers and has an annual incidence of 20–50 per million people. Following initial assessment with appropriate physical examination and imaging, patients who are deemed surgical candidates should undergo decompression with stabilization. Earlier intervention can improve neurological recovery in the post-operative period while allowing earlier mobilization. Optimized medical management is paramount to improve outcomes. Emerging strategies for managing SCI in the acute period stem from an evolving understanding of the pathophysiology of the injury. General areas of focus include ischemia prevention, reduction of secondary injury due to inflammation, modulation of the cytotoxic and immune response, and promotion of cellular regeneration. In this article, we review established, emerging, and novel experimental therapies. Continued translational research on these methods will improve the feasibility of bench-to-bedside innovations in treating patients with acute SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Gadot
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David N. Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marc Prablek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joey K. Grochmal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alfonso Fuentes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander E. Ropper
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Corresponding Author Alexander E. Ropper Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 7200 Cambridge St. Suite 9A, Houston, TX, USA
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Liu M, Yang F, Xu Y. Global Trends of Stem Cell Precision Medicine Research (2018–2022): A Bibliometric Analysis. Front Surg 2022; 9:888956. [PMID: 35813047 PMCID: PMC9260221 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.888956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundStem cells are a group of cells that can self-renew and have multiple differentiation capabilities. Shinya Yamanaka first discovered a method to convert somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells in 2006. Stem cell therapy can be summarized into three aspects (regenerative treatment, therapy targeted at stem cells, and establishment of disease models). Disease models are mainly established by induced pluripotent stem cells, and the research of stem cell precision medicine has been promising in recent years. Based on the construction of 3D, patient-specific disease models from pluripotent induced stem cells, proper research on disease development and treatment prognosis can be realized. Bibliometric analysis is an efficient way to quickly understand global trends and hotspots in this field.MethodsA literature search of stem cell precision medicine research from 2018 to 2022 was carried out using the Web of Science Core Collection.VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix, and CiteSpace software programs were employed to perform the bibliometric analysis.ResultsA total of 552 publications were retrieved from 2018 to 2022. Annual publication outputs trended upward and reached a peak of 172 in 2021. The United States contributed the most publications (160, 29.0%) to the field, followed by China (63, 11.4%) and Italy (60, 10.9%). International academic collaborations were active. CANCERS was considered the most productive journal with 18 documents. NATURE was the most co-cited journal with 1860 times citations. The most cited document was entitled “Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Disease Modeling and Precision Medicine: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association” with 9 times local citations. “ precision medicine” (n = 89, 12.64%), “personalized medicine” (n = 72, 10.23%), “stem cells” (n = 43, 4.40%), and “induced pluripotent stem cells” (n = 41, 5.82%), “cancer stem cells” (n = 31, 4%), “organoids” (n = 26, 3.69%) were the top 6 frequent keywords.ConclusionThe present study performs a comprehensive investigation concerning stem cell precision medicine (2018–2022) for the first time. This research field is developing, and a deeper exploration of 3D patient-specific organoid disease models is worth more research in the future.
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Liu S, Yang H, Chen D, Xie Y, Tai C, Wang L, Wang P, Wang B. Three-dimensional bioprinting sodium alginate/gelatin scaffold combined with neural stem cells and oligodendrocytes markedly promoting nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury. Regen Biomater 2022; 9:rbac038. [PMID: 35801010 PMCID: PMC9255276 DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbac038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating research has indicated that the transplantation of combined stem cells and scaffolds is an effective method for spinal cord injury (SCI). The development of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology can make the 3D scaffolds combined with cells more accurate and effective for SCI treatment. However, unmyelinated newborn nerve fibers have no nerve signaling conduction, hampering recovery of motor function. In this study, we designed and printed a type of sodium alginate/gelatin scaffold loaded with neural stem cells and oligodendrocytes, which were involved in the formation of the myelin sheaths of neural cell axons. In order to observe the effectiveness of this 3D bioprinting scaffold, we transplanted it into the completely transected rat spinal cord, and then immunofluorescence staining, hematoxylin–eosin staining and behavioral assessment were performed. The results showed that this 3D bioprinting scaffold markedly improved the hindlimb motor function and promoted nerve regeneration. These findings suggested that this novel 3D bioprinting scaffold was a good carrier for cells transplantation, thereby enhancing spinal cord repair following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Liu
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - ChenXu Tai
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liudi Wang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School Clinical Stem Cell Center, , Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Feng Y, Li Y, Shen PP, Wang B. Gene-Modified Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury: a Promising Better Alternative Therapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2662-2682. [PMID: 35587330 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell therapy holds great promise for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI), which can reverse neurodegeneration and promote tissue regeneration via its pluripotency and ability to secrete neurotrophic factors. Although various stem cell-based approaches have shown certain therapeutic effects when applied to the treatment of SCI, their clinical efficacies have been disappointing. Thus, it is an urgent need to further enhance the neurological benefits of stem cells through bioengineering strategies including genetic engineering. In this review, we summarize the progress of stem cell therapy for SCI and the prospect of genetically modified stem cells, focusing on the genome editing tools and functional molecules involved in SCI repair, trying to provide a deeper understanding of genetically modified stem cell therapy and more applicable clinical strategies for SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Feng
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu Li
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ping-Ping Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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40
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Shang Z, Li D, Chen J, Wang R, Wang M, Zhang B, Wang X, Wanyan P. What Is the Optimal Timing of Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis Based on Animal Studies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:855309. [PMID: 35371014 PMCID: PMC8965614 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.855309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The optimal transplantation timing of neural stem cells in spinal cord injury is fully explored in animal studies to reduce the risk of transformation to clinical practice and to provide valuable reference for future animal studies and clinical research. Method Seven electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (CSJD-VIP), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched. The studies were retrieved from inception to November 2021. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the methodological quality based on the inclusion criteria. Results and Discussion Thirty-nine studies were incorporated into the final analyses. Based on the subgroup of animal models and transplantation dose, the results of network meta-analysis showed that the effect of transplantation in the subacute phase might be the best. However, the results of traditional meta-analysis were inconsistent. In the moderate-dose group of moderate spinal cord injury model and the low-dose group of severe spinal cord injury model, transplantation in the subacute phase did not significantly improve motor function. Given the lack of evidence for direct comparison between different transplantation phases, the indirectness of our network meta-analysis, and the low quality of evidence in current animal studies, our confidence in recommending cell transplantation in the subacute phase is limited. In the future, more high-quality, direct comparative studies are needed to explore this issue in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhizhong Shang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dongliang Li
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinlei Chen
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - RuiRui Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mingchuan Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Baolin Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Chengren Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.,Department of Spine, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pingping Wanyan
- Basic Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.,Department of Nephrology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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41
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Progression in translational research on spinal cord injury based on microenvironment imbalance. Bone Res 2022; 10:35. [PMID: 35396505 PMCID: PMC8993811 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-022-00199-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level and imposes a considerable burden on patients, families, and society. Repair of the injured spinal cord has been recognized as a global medical challenge for many years. Significant progress has been made in research on the pathological mechanism of spinal cord injury. In particular, with the development of gene regulation, cell sequencing, and cell tracing technologies, in-depth explorations of the SCI microenvironment have become more feasible. However, translational studies related to repair of the injured spinal cord have not yielded significant results. This review summarizes the latest research progress on two aspects of SCI pathology: intraneuronal microenvironment imbalance and regenerative microenvironment imbalance. We also review repair strategies for the injured spinal cord based on microenvironment imbalance, including medications, cell transplantation, exosomes, tissue engineering, cell reprogramming, and rehabilitation. The current state of translational research on SCI and future directions are also discussed. The development of a combined, precise, and multitemporal strategy for repairing the injured spinal cord is a potential future direction.
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42
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Vellosillo L, Pascual-Guerra J, Muñoz MP, Rodríguez-Navarro JA, González-Nieto D, Barrio LC, Lobo MDVT, Paíno CL. Oligodendroglia Generated From Adult Rat Adipose Tissue by Direct Cell Conversion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:741499. [PMID: 35223826 PMCID: PMC8873586 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.741499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Obtaining oligodendroglial cells from dispensable tissues would be of great interest for autologous or immunocompatible cell replacement therapy in demyelinating diseases, as well as for studying myelin-related pathologies or testing therapeutic approaches in culture. We evaluated the feasibility of generating oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) from adult rat adipose tissue by expressing genes encoding transcription factors involved in oligodendroglial development. Adipose-derived mesenchymal cells were lentivirally transduced with tetracycline-inducible Sox10, Olig2, Zfp536, and/or Nkx6.1 transgenes. Immunostaining with the OPC-specific O4 monoclonal antibody was used to mark oligodendroglial induction. O4- and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG)-positive cells emerged after 3 weeks when using the Sox10 + Olig2 + Zfp536 combination, followed in the ensuing weeks by GFAP-, O1 antigen-, p75NTR (low-affinity NGF receptor)-, and myelin proteins-positive cells. The O4+ cell population progressively expanded, eventually constituting more than 70% of cells in culture by 5 months. Sox10 transgene expression was essential for generating O4+ cells but was insufficient for inducing a full oligodendroglial phenotype. Converted cells required continuous transgene expression to maintain their glial phenotype. Some vestigial characteristics of mesenchymal cells were maintained after conversion. Growth factor withdrawal and triiodothyronine (T3) supplementation generated mature oligodendroglial phenotypes, while FBS supplementation produced GFAP+- and p75NTR+-rich cultures. Converted cells also showed functional characteristics of neural-derived OPCs, such as the expression of AMPA, NMDA, kainate, and dopaminergic receptors, as well as similar metabolic responses to differentiation-inducing drugs. When co-cultured with rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, the converted cells differentiated and ensheathed multiple axons. We propose that functional oligodendroglia can be efficiently generated from adult rat mesenchymal cells by direct phenotypic conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Vellosillo
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Pascual-Guerra
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Paz Muñoz
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Rodríguez-Navarro
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Luis Carlos Barrio
- Unidad de Neurología Experimental, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria del Val Toledo Lobo
- Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnología, IRYCIS, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Carlos Luis Paíno
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Carlos Luis Paíno,
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43
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Yuan H, Fang CL, Deng YP, Huang J, Niu RZ, Chen JL, Chen TB, Zhu ZQ, Chen L, Xiong LL, Wang TH. A2B5-positive oligodendrocyte precursor cell transplantation improves neurological deficits in rats following spinal cord contusion associated with changes in expression of factors involved in the Notch signaling pathway. Neurochirurgie 2022; 68:188-195. [PMID: 34543615 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are myelinated glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS), able to regenerate oligodendrocytes and myelin. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of A2B5-positive (A2B5+) OPC transplantation in rats with spinal cord contusion (SCC) and to investigate changes in expression of various factors involved in the Notch signaling pathway after OPC transplantation. METHODS OPCs were obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) originating from mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). After identification of iPSCs and iPSC-derived OPCs, A2B5+ OPCs were transplanted into the injured site of rats with SCC one week after SCC insult. Behavioral tests evaluated motor and sensory function 7 days after OPC transplantation. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) determined the expression of various cytokines related to the Notch signaling pathway after OPC transplantation. RESULTS IPSC-derived OPCs were successfully generated from MEFs, as indicated by positive immunostaining of A2B5, PDGFα and NG2. Further differentiation of OPCs was identified by immunostaining of Olig2, Sox10, Nkx2.2, O4, MBP and GFAP. Importantly, myelin formation was significantly enhanced in the SCC+ OPC group and SCI-induced motor and sensory dysfunction was largely alleviated by A2B5+ OPC transplantation. Expression of factors involved in the Notch signaling pathway (Notch-1, Numb, SHARP1 and NEDD4) was significantly increased after OPC transplantation. CONCLUSIONS A2B5+ OPC transplantation attenuates motor and sensory dysfunction in SCC rats by promoting myelin formation, which may be associated with change in expression of factors involved in the Notch signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - C-L Fang
- Institute of Neurological Disease, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Anesthesiology, National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base and Western Medicine Translational Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Y-P Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base and Western Medicine Translational Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - J Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China
| | - R-Z Niu
- Laboratory Animal Department, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China
| | - J-L Chen
- Laboratory Animal Department, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China
| | - T-B Chen
- Laboratory Animal Department, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China
| | - Z-Q Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - L Chen
- Institute of Neurological Disease, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - L-L Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - T-H Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China; Laboratory Animal Department, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650031, Yunnan, China; Institute of Neurological Disease, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
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44
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, the School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- Wei Wang, Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. Tel: +86-27-83663657, E-mail:
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45
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Hastings N, Kuan WL, Osborne A, Kotter MRN. Therapeutic Potential of Astrocyte Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2022; 31:9636897221105499. [PMID: 35770772 PMCID: PMC9251977 DOI: 10.1177/09636897221105499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell transplantation is an attractive treatment strategy for a variety of brain disorders, as it promises to replenish lost functions and rejuvenate the brain. In particular, transplantation of astrocytes has come into light recently as a therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); moreover, grafting of astrocytes also showed positive results in models of other conditions ranging from neurodegenerative diseases of older age to traumatic injury and stroke. Despite clear differences in etiology, disorders such as ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as traumatic injury and stroke, converge on a number of underlying astrocytic abnormalities, which include inflammatory changes, mitochondrial damage, calcium signaling disturbance, hemichannel opening, and loss of glutamate transporters. In this review, we examine these convergent pathways leading to astrocyte dysfunction, and explore the existing evidence for a therapeutic potential of transplantation of healthy astrocytes in various models. Existing literature presents a wide variety of methods to generate astrocytes, or relevant precursor cells, for subsequent transplantation, while described outcomes of this type of treatment also differ between studies. We take technical differences between methodologies into account to understand the variability of therapeutic benefits, or lack thereof, at a deeper level. We conclude by discussing some key requirements of an astrocyte graft that would be most suitable for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Hastings
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wei-Li Kuan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew Osborne
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R N Kotter
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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46
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Zhang GY, Lv ZM, Ma HX, Chen Y, Yuan Y, Sun PX, Feng YQ, Li YW, Lu WJ, Yang YD, Yang C, Yu XL, Wang C, Liang SL, Zhang ML, Li HL, Li WL. Chemical approach to generating long-term self-renewing pMN progenitors from human embryonic stem cells. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 14:6459209. [PMID: 34893854 PMCID: PMC8872822 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjab076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord impairment involving motor neuron degeneration and demyelination can cause life-long disabilities, but effective clinical interventions for restoring neurological functions have yet been developed. In early spinal cord development, neural progenitors in the pMN ('progenitors of motor neurons') domain, defined by the expression of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2), in ventral spinal cord first generate motor neurons and then switch the fate to produce myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. Given their differentiation potential, pMN progenitors could be a valuable cell source for cell therapy in relevant neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury. However, fast generation and expansion of pMN progenitors in vitro while conserving their differentiation potential has so far been technically challenging. In this study, based on the chemical screening, we have developed a new recipe for efficient induction of pMN progenitors from human embryonic stem cells. More importantly, these OLIG2+ pMN progenitors can be stably maintained for multiple passages without losing their ability to produce spinal motor neurons and oligodendrocytes rapidly. Our results suggest that these self-renewing pMN progenitors could potentially be useful as a renewable source of cell transplants for spinal cord injury and demyelinating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Yu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhu-Man Lv
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hao-Xin Ma
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ping-Xin Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yu-Qi Feng
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ya-Wen Li
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wen-Jie Lu
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yu-Dong Yang
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Xin-Lu Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shu-Long Liang
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ming-Liang Zhang
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hui-Liang Li
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Wen-Lin Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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47
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Long-Term Effects of Neural Precursor Cell Transplantation on Secondary Injury Processes and Functional Recovery after Severe Cervical Contusion-Compression Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222313106. [PMID: 34884911 PMCID: PMC8658203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313106] [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: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a devastating event without adequate treatment options despite decades of research. In this context, the usefulness of common preclinical SCI models has been criticized. We, therefore, aimed to use a clinically relevant animal model of severe cervical SCI to assess the long-term effects of neural precursor cell (NPC) transplantation on secondary injury processes and functional recovery. To this end, we performed a clip contusion-compression injury at the C6 level in 40 female Wistar rats and a sham surgery in 10 female Wistar rats. NPCs, isolated from the subventricular zone of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenic rat embryos, were transplanted ten days after the injury. Functional recovery was assessed weekly, and FluoroGold (FG) retrograde fiber-labeling, as well as manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI), were performed prior to the sacrifice of the animals eight weeks after SCI. After cryosectioning of the spinal cords, immunofluorescence staining was conducted. Results were compared between the treatment groups (NPC, Vehicle, Sham) and statistically analyzed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Despite the severity of the injury, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality during the experiment, long-term survival of the engrafted NPCs with a predominant differentiation into oligodendrocytes could be observed after eight weeks. While myelination of the injured spinal cord was not significantly improved, NPC treated animals showed a significant increase of intact perilesional motor neurons and preserved spinal tracts compared to untreated Vehicle animals. These findings were associated with enhanced preservation of intact spinal cord tissue. However, reactive astrogliosis and inflammation where not significantly reduced by the NPC-treatment. While differences in the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score and the Gridwalk test remained insignificant, animals in the NPC group performed significantly better in the more objective CatWalk XT gait analysis, suggesting some beneficial effects of the engrafted NPCs on the functional recovery after severe cervical SCI.
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48
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Ebrahimi A, Ahmadi H, Ghasrodashti ZP, Tanideh N, Shahriarirad R, Erfani A, Ranjbar K, Ashkani-Esfahani S. Therapeutic effects of stem cells in different body systems, a novel method that is yet to gain trust: A comprehensive review. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2021; 21:672-701. [PMID: 34255619 PMCID: PMC8554700 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2021.5508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy has been used to treat several types of diseases, and it is expected that its therapeutic uses shall increase as novel lines of evidence begin to appear. Furthermore, stem cells have the potential to make new tissues and organs. Thus, some scientists propose that organ transplantation will significantly rely on stem cell technology and organogenesis in the future. Stem cells and its robust potential to differentiate into specific types of cells and regenerate tissues and body organs, have been investigated by numerous clinician scientists and researchers for their therapeutic effects. Degenerative diseases in different organs have been the main target of stem cell therapy. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis, congenital cardiovascular diseases, and blood cell diseases such as leukemia are among the health conditions that have benefited from stem cell therapy advancements. One of the most challenging parts of the process of incorporating stem cells into clinical practice is controlling their division and differentiation potentials. Sometimes, their potential for uncontrolled growth will make these cells tumorigenic. Another caveat in this process is the ability to control the differentiation process. While stem cells can easily differentiate into a wide variety of cells, a paracrine effect controlled activity, being in an appropriate medium will cause abnormal differentiation leading to treatment failure. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the therapeutic effects of stem cells in diseases of various organ systems. In order to advance this new treatment to its full potential, researchers should focus on establishing methods to control the differentiation process, while policymakers should take an active role in providing adequate facilities and equipment for these projects. Large population clinical trials are a necessary tool that will help build trust in this method. Moreover, improving social awareness about the advantages and adverse effects of stem cell therapy is required to develop a rational demand in the society, and consequently, healthcare systems should consider established stem cell-based therapeutic methods in their treatment algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ebrahimi
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hanie Ahmadi
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Pourfraidon Ghasrodashti
- Molecular Pathology and Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nader Tanideh
- Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Shahriarirad
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Erfani
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Keivan Ranjbar
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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49
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Martin-Lopez M, Fernandez-Muñoz B, Canovas S. Pluripotent Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury Repair. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123334. [PMID: 34943842 PMCID: PMC8699436 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition of the central nervous system that strongly reduces the patient’s quality of life and has large financial costs for the healthcare system. Cell therapy has shown considerable therapeutic potential for SCI treatment in different animal models. Although many different cell types have been investigated with the goal of promoting repair and recovery from injury, stem cells appear to be the most promising. Here, we review the experimental approaches that have been carried out with pluripotent stem cells, a cell type that, due to its inherent plasticity, self-renewal, and differentiation potential, represents an attractive source for the development of new cell therapies for SCI. We will focus on several key observations that illustrate the potential of cell therapy for SCI, and we will attempt to draw some conclusions from the studies performed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Martin-Lopez
- Cellular Reprogramming and Production Unit, Andalusian Network for the Design and Translation of Advanced Therapies, 41092 Sevilla, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.M.-L.); (S.C.)
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Muñoz
- Cellular Reprogramming and Production Unit, Andalusian Network for the Design and Translation of Advanced Therapies, 41092 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Sebastian Canovas
- Physiology of Reproduction Group, Physiology Department, Mare Nostrum Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca-UMU, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.M.-L.); (S.C.)
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50
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Neural Stem Cells: Promoting Axonal Regeneration and Spinal Cord Connectivity. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123296. [PMID: 34943804 PMCID: PMC8699545 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to irreversible functional impairment caused by neuronal loss and the disruption of neuronal connections across the injury site. While several experimental strategies have been used to minimize tissue damage and to enhance axonal growth and regeneration, the corticospinal projection, which is the most important voluntary motor system in humans, remains largely refractory to regenerative therapeutic interventions. To date, one of the most promising pre-clinical therapeutic strategies has been neural stem cell (NSC) therapy for SCI. Over the last decade we have found that host axons regenerate into spinal NSC grafts placed into sites of SCI. These regenerating axons form synapses with the graft, and the graft in turn extends very large numbers of new axons from the injury site over long distances into the distal spinal cord. Here we discuss the pathophysiology of SCI that makes the spinal cord refractory to spontaneous regeneration, the most recent findings of neural stem cell therapy for SCI, how it has impacted motor systems including the corticospinal tract and the implications for sensory feedback.
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