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Urban MW, Charsar BA, Heinsinger NM, Markandaiah SS, Sprimont L, Zhou W, Brown EV, Henderson NT, Thomas SJ, Ghosh B, Cain RE, Trotti D, Pasinelli P, Wright MC, Dalva MB, Lepore AC. EphrinB2 knockdown in cervical spinal cord preserves diaphragm innervation in a mutant SOD1 mouse model of ALS. eLife 2024; 12:RP89298. [PMID: 38224498 PMCID: PMC10945582 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89298] [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: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss. Importantly, non-neuronal cell types such as astrocytes also play significant roles in disease pathogenesis. However, mechanisms of astrocyte contribution to ALS remain incompletely understood. Astrocyte involvement suggests that transcellular signaling may play a role in disease. We examined contribution of transmembrane signaling molecule ephrinB2 to ALS pathogenesis, in particular its role in driving motor neuron damage by spinal cord astrocytes. In symptomatic SOD1G93A mice (a well-established ALS model), ephrinB2 expression was dramatically increased in ventral horn astrocytes. Reducing ephrinB2 in the cervical spinal cord ventral horn via viral-mediated shRNA delivery reduced motor neuron loss and preserved respiratory function by maintaining phrenic motor neuron innervation of diaphragm. EphrinB2 expression was also elevated in human ALS spinal cord. These findings implicate ephrinB2 upregulation as both a transcellular signaling mechanism in mutant SOD1-associated ALS and a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Urban
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Brittany A Charsar
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Nicolette M Heinsinger
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Shashirekha S Markandaiah
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Lindsay Sprimont
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Eric V Brown
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Nathan T Henderson
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Samantha J Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Biswarup Ghosh
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Rachel E Cain
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Piera Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Megan C Wright
- Department of Biology, Arcadia UniversityGlensideUnited States
| | - Matthew B Dalva
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Angelo C Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
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Michel-Flutot P, Cheng L, Thomas SJ, Lisi B, Schwartz H, Lam S, Lyttle M, Jaffe DA, Smith G, Li S, Wright MC, Lepore AC. PTEN inhibition promotes robust growth of bulbospinal respiratory axons and partial recovery of diaphragm function in a chronic model of cervical contusion spinal cord injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.10.575021. [PMID: 38260313 PMCID: PMC10802567 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.575021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
High spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to persistent and debilitating compromise in respiratory function. Cervical SCI not only causes the death of phrenic motor neurons (PhMNs) that innervate the diaphragm, but also damages descending respiratory pathways originating in the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) located in the brainstem, resulting in denervation and consequent silencing of spared PhMNs located caudal to injury. It is imperative to determine whether interventions targeting rVRG axon growth and respiratory neural circuit reconnection are efficacious in chronic cervical contusion SCI, given that the vast majority of individuals are chronically-injured and most cases of SCI involve contusion-type damage to the cervical region. We therefore employed a clinically-relevant rat model of chronic cervical hemicontusion to test therapeutic manipulations aimed at reconstructing damaged rVRG-PhMN-diaphragm circuitry to achieve recovery of respiratory function. At a chronic time point post-injury, we systemically administered: an antagonist peptide directed against phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a central inhibitor of neuron-intrinsic axon growth potential; an antagonist peptide directed against receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), another important negative regulator of axon growth capacity; or a combination of these two peptides. PTEN antagonist peptide (PAP4) promoted partial recovery of diaphragm motor activity out to nine months post-injury, while PTPσ peptide did not impact diaphragm function after cervical SCI. Furthermore, PAP4 promoted robust growth of descending bulbospinal rVRG axons caudal to the injury within the denervated portion of the PhMN pool, while PTPσ peptide did not affect rVRG axon growth at this location that is critical to control of diaphragmatic respiratory function. In conclusion, we find that, when PTEN inhibition is targeted at a chronic time point following cervical contusion that is most relevant to the SCI clinical population, our non-invasive PAP4 strategy can successfully promote significant regrowth of damaged respiratory neural circuitry and also partial recovery of diaphragm motor function. HIGHLIGHTS PTEN antagonist peptide promotes partial diaphragm function recovery in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTPσ inhibitory peptide does not impact diaphragm function recovery in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTEN antagonist peptide promotes growth of bulbospinal rVRG axons in chronic cervical contusion SCI.PTPσ peptide does not affect rVRG axon growth in chronic cervical contusion SCI.
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Zheng X, Liu Z, He Z, Xu J, Wang Y, Gong C, Zhang R, Zhang SC, Chen H, Wang W. Preclinical long-term safety of intraspinal transplantation of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells. iScience 2023; 26:108306. [PMID: 38026209 PMCID: PMC10661464 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108306] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons have shown promise in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously showed that hPSC-derived dorsal spinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons can alleviate spasticity and promote locomotion in rats with SCI, but their long-term safety remains elusive. Here, we characterized the long-term fate and safety of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in naive rats over one year. All grafted NPCs had undergone differentiation, yielding mainly neurons and astrocytes. Fully mature human neurons grew many axons and formed numerous synapses with rat neural circuits, together with mature human astrocytes that structurally integrated into the rat spinal cord. The sensorimotor function of rats was not impaired by intraspinal transplantation, even when human neurons were activated or inhibited by designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). These findings represent a significant step toward the clinical translation of human spinal neuron transplantation for treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhixian Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ziyu He
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - YaNan Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - ChenZi Gong
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ruoying Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Program in Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 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 430030, China
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Cicardi M, Hallgren J, Mawrie D, Krishnamurthy K, Markandaiah S, Nelson A, Kankate V, Anderson E, Pasinelli P, Pandey U, Eischen C, Trotti D. C9orf72 poly(PR) mediated neurodegeneration is associated with nucleolar stress. iScience 2023; 26:107505. [PMID: 37664610 PMCID: PMC10470315 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107505] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The ALS/FTD-linked intronic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is aberrantly translated in the sense and antisense directions into dipeptide repeat proteins, among which poly proline-arginine (PR) displays the most aggressive neurotoxicity in-vitro and in-vivo. PR partitions to the nucleus when heterologously expressed in neurons and other cell types. We show that by lessening the nuclear accumulation of PR, we can drastically reduce its neurotoxicity. PR strongly accumulates in the nucleolus, a nuclear structure critical in regulating the cell stress response. We determined that, in neurons, PR caused nucleolar stress and increased levels of the transcription factor p53. Downregulating p53 levels also prevented PR-mediated neurotoxicity both in in-vitro and in-vivo models. We investigated if PR could induce the senescence phenotype in neurons. However, we did not observe any indications of such an effect. Instead, we found evidence for the induction of programmed cell death via caspase-3 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.E. Cicardi
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J.H. Hallgren
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D. Mawrie
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - K. Krishnamurthy
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S.S. Markandaiah
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A.T. Nelson
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - V. Kankate
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E.N. Anderson
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - P. Pasinelli
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - U.B. Pandey
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - C.M. Eischen
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D. Trotti
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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5
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Cicardi ME, Hallgren JH, Mawrie D, Krishnamurthy K, Markandaiah SS, Nelson AT, Kankate V, Anderson EN, Pasinelli P, Pandey UB, Eischen CM, Trotti D. C9orf72 poly(PR) mediated neurodegeneration is associated with nucleolar stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.16.528809. [PMID: 36824930 PMCID: PMC9949130 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.16.528809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The ALS/FTD-linked intronic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is translated into dipeptide repeat proteins, among which poly-proline-arginine (PR) displays the most aggressive neurotoxicity in-vitro and in-vivo . PR partitions to the nucleus when expressed in neurons and other cell types. Using drosophila and primary rat cortical neurons as model systems, we show that by lessening the nuclear accumulation of PR, we can drastically reduce its neurotoxicity. PR accumulates in the nucleolus, a site of ribosome biogenesis that regulates the cell stress response. We examined the effect of nucleolar PR accumulation and its impact on nucleolar function and determined that PR caused nucleolar stress and increased levels of the transcription factor p53. Downregulating p53 levels, either genetically or by increasing its degradation, also prevented PR-mediated neurotoxic phenotypes both in in-vitro and in-vivo models. We also investigated whether PR could cause the senescence phenotype in neurons but observed none. Instead, we found induction of apoptosis via caspase-3 activation. In summary, we uncovered the central role of nucleolar dysfunction upon PR expression in the context of C9-ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Cicardi
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J H Hallgren
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Mawrie
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - K Krishnamurthy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S S Markandaiah
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A T Nelson
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - V Kankate
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E N Anderson
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - P Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - U B Pandey
- Center for Neuroscience, Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - C M Eischen
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Sanganahalli BG, Pavuluri S, Chitturi J, Herman P, Elkabes S, Heary R, Hyder F, Kannurpatti SS. Lateralized Supraspinal Functional Connectivity Correlate with Pain and Motor Dysfunction in Rat Hemicontusion Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:421-432. [PMID: 36337081 PMCID: PMC9622206 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Afferent nociceptive activity in the reorganizing spinal cord after SCI influences supraspinal regions to establish pain. Clinical evidence of poor motor functional recovery in SCI patients with pain, led us to hypothesize that sensory-motor integration transforms into sensory-motor interference to manifest pain. This was tested by investigating supraspinal changes in a rat model of hemicontusion cervical SCI. Animals displayed ipsilateral forelimb motor dysfunction and pain, which persisted at 6 weeks after SCI. Using resting state fMRI at 8 weeks after SCI, RSFC across 14 ROIs involved in nociception, indicated lateral differences with a relatively weaker right-right connectivity (deafferented-contralateral) compared to left-left (unaffected-ipsilateral). However, the sensory (S1) and motor (M1/M2) networks showed greater RSFC using right hemisphere ROI seeds when compared to left. Voxel seeds from the somatosensory forelimb (S1FL) and M1/M2 representations reproduced the SCI-induced sensory and motor RSFC enhancements observed using the ROI seeds. Larger local connectivity occurred in the right sensory and motor networks amidst a decreasing overall local connectivity. This maladaptive reorganization of the right (deafferented) hemisphere localized the sensory component of pain emerging from the ipsilateral forepaw. A significant expansion of the sensory and motor network s overlap occurred globally after SCI when compared to sham, supporting the hypothesis that sensory and motor interference manifests pain. Voxel-seed based analysis revealed greater sensory and motor network overlap in the left hemisphere when compared to the right. This left predominance of the overlap suggested relatively larger pain processing in the unaffected hemisphere, when compared to the deafferented side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basavaraju G. Sanganahalli
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Swathi Pavuluri
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jyothsna Chitturi
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Peter Herman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Heary
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sridhar S. Kannurpatti
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.,Address correspondence to: Sridhar S. Kannurpatti, PhD, Department of Radiology, RUTGERS–New Jersey Medical School, MSB, F-506, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
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Chitturi J, Sanganahalli BG, Herman P, Hyder F, Ni L, Elkabes S, Heary R, Kannurpatti SS. Association Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Spinal Morphometry and Sensorimotor Behavior in a Hemicontusion Model of Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Rats. Brain Connect 2020; 10:479-489. [PMID: 32981350 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Structural connectivity in the reorganizing spinal cord after injury dictates functional connectivity and hence the neurological outcome. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based structural parameters are mostly accessible across spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, we studied MRI-based spinal morphological changes and their relationship to neurological outcome in the rat model of cervical SCI. Introduction: Functional connectivity assessments on patients with SCI rely heavily on MRI-based approaches to investigate the complete neural axis (both spinal cord and brain). Hence, underlying MRI-based structural and morphometric changes in the reorganizing spinal cord and their relationship to neurological outcomes is crucial for meaningful interpretation of functional connectivity changes across the neural axis. Methods: Young adult rats, aged 1.5 months, underwent a precise mechanical impact hemicontusion incomplete cervical SCI at the C4/C5 level, after which sensorimotor behavioral assessments were tracked during the reorganization period of 1-6 weeks, followed by MRI of the cervical spinal cord at 8 weeks after SCI. Results: A significant ipsilesional forelimb motor debilitation was observed from 1 to 6 weeks after injury. Heat sensitivity testing (Hargreaves) showed ipsilesional forelimb hypersensitivity at 5 and 6 weeks after SCI. MRI of the cervical spine showed ipsilateral T1- and T2-weighted lesions across all SCI rats compared with no significant lesions in sham rats. Morphometric assessments of the lesional and nonlesional changes showed the diverse nature of their interindividual variability in the SCI receiving rats. While the various T1 and T2 MRI lesional volumes associated weakly or moderately with neurological outcome, the nonlesional spinal morphometric changes associated much more strongly. The results have important implications for interpreting functional MRI-based functional connectivity after SCI by providing vital underlying structural changes and their relative neurological impact. Impact statement Functional connectivity assessments on patients with SCI relies heavily upon MRI based approaches. Hence, underlying MRI based structural and morphometric changes in the reorganizing spinal cord and its relationship to neurological outcomes is vital for meaningful interpretation of functional connectivity changes across the complete neural axis (both spinal cord and the brain).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyothsna Chitturi
- Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Basavaraju G Sanganahalli
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Peter Herman
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Quantitative Neuroscience with Magnetic Resonance (QNMR) Core Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Li Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert Heary
- Hackensack University School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sridhar S Kannurpatti
- Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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Filipi T, Hermanova Z, Tureckova J, Vanatko O, Anderova M. Glial Cells-The Strategic Targets in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E261. [PMID: 31963681 PMCID: PMC7020059 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease, which is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex and the spinal cord and subsequently by muscle atrophy. To date, numerous gene mutations have been linked to both sporadic and familial ALS, but the effort of many experimental groups to develop a suitable therapy has not, as of yet, proven successful. The original focus was on the degenerating motor neurons, when researchers tried to understand the pathological mechanisms that cause their slow death. However, it was soon discovered that ALS is a complicated and diverse pathology, where not only neurons, but also other cell types, play a crucial role via the so-called non-cell autonomous effect, which strongly deteriorates neuronal conditions. Subsequently, variable glia-based in vitro and in vivo models of ALS were established and used for brand-new experimental and clinical approaches. Such a shift towards glia soon bore its fruit in the form of several clinical studies, which more or less successfully tried to ward the unfavourable prognosis of ALS progression off. In this review, we aimed to summarize current knowledge regarding the involvement of each glial cell type in the progression of ALS, currently available treatments, and to provide an overview of diverse clinical trials covering pharmacological approaches, gene, and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Filipi
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
- 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Hermanova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
- 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Tureckova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Ondrej Vanatko
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic; (T.F.); (Z.H.); (J.T.); (O.V.)
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Tang C, Zhu L, Zhou Q, Li M, Zhu Y, Xu Z, Lu Y, Xu R. Altered Features of Vimentin-containing Cells in Cerebrum of Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur Mice: A Preliminary Study on Cerebrum Endogenous Neural Precursor Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Biol Sci 2019; 15:2830-2843. [PMID: 31853221 PMCID: PMC6909959 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.33461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vimentin-containing cells (VCCs) are potential neural precursor cells in central nervous systems, Thus, we studied the alteration of VCCs proliferation, differentiation and migration in the cerebrum during different stages of Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. It aims to search potential ways regulating the proliferation, differentiation and migration of endogenous VCCs, to enhance their neural repair function and to cure or prevent from the development of ALS. We observed and analyzed the proliferation, differentiation and migration of VCCs in different anatomic regions and cell types of cerebrum at different stages including the pre-onset (60-70 days), onset (90-100 days) and progression (120-130 days) of wild-type (WT) and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice using the fluorescent immunohistochemical technology. Results showed that VCCs in the cerebrum were mostly distributed in the ventricular system, periventricular structures, the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex in WT mice. VCCs significantly reduced in the motor cortex and the cingulate cortex in Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. All vimentin expressed in the extranuclear and almost all VCCs were astrocytes in WT mice and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice. There were no significant difference in the number of Brdu and nestin positive cells in left and right brains of WT mice and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice in the period of 60-130 days. Our data suggested that there existed extensively NPCs in the cerebrum of adult mice. In ALS-like Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur mice, VCCs in the motor cortex, the olfactory cortex and the cingulate cortex showed that no any proliferation and redistribution in neural cells of VCCs in the cerebrum occurred in all stages of ALS, might migrate to damaged regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Tang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Lei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Menghua Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Zhenzhen Xu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
| | - Renshi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, china
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
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10
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Vandeweerd JM, Hontoir F, De Knoop A, De Swert K, Nicaise C. Retrograde Neuroanatomical Tracing of Phrenic Motor Neurons in Mice. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29553523 DOI: 10.3791/56758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phrenic motor neurons are cervical motor neurons originating from C3 to C6 levels in most mammalian species. Axonal projections converge into phrenic nerves innervating the respiratory diaphragm. In spinal cord slices, phrenic motor neurons cannot be identified from other motor neurons on morphological or biochemical criteria. We provide the description of procedures for visualizing phrenic motor neuron cell bodies in mice, following intrapleural injections of cholera toxin subunit beta (CTB) conjugated to a fluorophore. This fluorescent neuroanatomical tracer has the ability to be caught up at the diaphragm neuromuscular junction, be carried retrogradely along the phrenic axons and reach the phrenic cell bodies. Two methodological approaches of intrapleural CTB delivery are compared: transdiaphragmatic versus transthoracic injections. Both approaches are successful and result in similar number of CTB-labeled phrenic motor neurons. In conclusion, these techniques can be applied to visualize or quantify the phrenic motor neurons in various experimental studies such as those focused on the diaphragm-phrenic circuitry.
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11
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Chen C, Zhang YP, Sun Y, Xiong W, Shields LBE, Shields CB, Jin X, Xu XM. An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury. J Vis Exp 2017:56565. [PMID: 29364252 PMCID: PMC5908407 DOI: 10.3791/56565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes significant vascular disruption at the site of injury. Vascular pathology occurs immediately after SCI and continues throughout the acute injury phase. In fact, endothelial cells appear to be the first to die after a contusive SCI. The early vascular events, including increased permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), induce vasogenic edema and contribute to detrimental secondary injury events caused by complex injury mechanisms. Targeting the vascular disruption, therefore, could be a key strategy to reduce secondary injury cascades that contribute to histological and functional impairments after SCI. Previous studies were mostly performed on postmortem samples and were unable to capture the dynamic changes of the vascular network. In this study, we have developed an in vivo duo-color two-photon imaging method to monitor acute vascular dynamic changes following contusive SCI. This approach allows detecting blood flow, vessel diameter, and other vascular pathologies at various sites of the same rat pre- and post-injury. Overall, this method provides an excellent venue for investigating vascular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine; Program in Medical Neuroscience, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | | | - Yan Sun
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine; Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University
| | - Wenhui Xiong
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | | | - Christopher B Shields
- Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine
| | - Xiaoming Jin
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine;
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12
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Aggarwal T, Hoeber J, Ivert P, Vasylovska S, Kozlova EN. Boundary Cap Neural Crest Stem Cells Promote Survival of Mutant SOD1 Motor Neurons. Neurotherapeutics 2017; 14:773-783. [PMID: 28070746 PMCID: PMC5509618 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-016-0505-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS is a devastating disease resulting in degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) in the brain and spinal cord. The survival of MNs strongly depends on surrounding glial cells and neurotrophic support from muscles. We previously demonstrated that boundary cap neural crest stem cells (bNCSCs) can give rise to neurons and glial cells in vitro and in vivo and have multiple beneficial effects on co-cultured and co-implanted cells, including neural cells. In this paper, we investigate if bNCSCs may improve survival of MNs harboring a mutant form of human SOD1 (SOD1G93A) in vitro under normal conditions and oxidative stress and in vivo after implantation to the spinal cord. We found that survival of SOD1G93A MNs in vitro was increased in the presence of bNCSCs under normal conditions as well as under oxidative stress. In addition, when SOD1G93A MN precursors were implanted to the spinal cord of adult mice, their survival was increased when they were co-implanted with bNCSCs. These findings show that bNCSCs support survival of SOD1G93A MNs in normal conditions and under oxidative stress in vitro and improve their survival in vivo, suggesting that bNCSCs have a potential for the development of novel stem cell-based therapeutic approaches in ALS models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Aggarwal
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ivert
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Svitlana Vasylovska
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena N Kozlova
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden.
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13
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Yang S, Liu J, Zhang X, Tian J, Zuo Z, Liu J, Yue X. Anesthetic isoflurane attenuates activated microglial cytokine-induced VSC4.1 motoneuronal apoptosis. Am J Transl Res 2016; 8:1437-1446. [PMID: 27186270 PMCID: PMC4859629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Isoflurane (ISO) exhibits neuroprotective effects against inflammation and apoptosis. However, the role of ISO in motoneuronal apoptosis induced by activated microglia remains poorly studied. We investigated the protective effects of ISO on the apoptosis of ventral spinal cord 4.1 (VSC4.1) motoneurons induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglia. Results indicated that ISO inhibited NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in LPS-treated BV-2 microglia. Conditioned medium (CM) from activated BV-2 cells treated by ISO directly prevented VSC4.1 motoneurons from LPS-CM-induced neuronal apoptosis, as determined by the following: reductions in caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 activities; downregulation of pro-apoptotic procaspase-8, cleaved (cl)-caspase-8, procaspase-9, cl-caspase-9, caspase-3, cl-caspase-3, Bid, Bax, and cytochrome c expression; and upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression in LPS-CM-cultured VSC4.1 motoneurons. Findings demonstrated that ISO inhibits BV-2 microglia activation and alleviates VSC4.1 motoneuronal apoptosis induced by microglial activation. These effects suggest that ISO can be used as an alternative agent for reducing neuronal apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangmei Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoran Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmin Tian
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhichao Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuqin Yue
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University Weihui 453100, Xinxiang, Henan, People's Republic of China
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14
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Allard J, Li K, Lopez XM, Blanchard S, Barbot P, Rorive S, Decaestecker C, Pochet R, Bohl D, Lepore AC, Salmon I, Nicaise C. Immunohistochemical toolkit for tracking and quantifying xenotransplanted human stem cells. Regen Med 2015; 9:437-52. [PMID: 25159062 DOI: 10.2217/rme.14.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Biomarker-based tracking of human stem cells xenotransplanted into animal models is crucial for studying their fate in the field of cell therapy or tumor xenografting. MATERIALS & METHODS Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we analyzed the expression of three human-specific biomarkers: Ku80, human mitochondria (hMito) and Alu. RESULTS We showed that Ku80, hMito and Alu biomarkers are broadly expressed in human tissues with no or low cross-reactivity toward rat, mouse or pig tissues. In vitro, we demonstrated that their expression is stable over time and does not change along the differentiation of human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells or human glial-restricted precursors. We tracked in vivo these cell populations after transplantation in rodent spinal cords using aforementioned biomarkers and human-specific antibodies detecting apoptotic, proliferating or neural-committed cells. CONCLUSION This study assesses the human-species specificity of Ku80, hMito and Alu, and proposes useful biomarkers for characterizing human stem cells in xenotransplantation paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Allard
- Department of Pathology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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15
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ZHANG RUOYU, CHEN HUAIHONG, ZHENG ZHE, LIU QIANG, XU LEI. Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for neurological disorders via inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway-mediated apoptosis. Mol Med Rep 2014; 11:1807-12. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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16
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Overexpression of the astrocyte glutamate transporter GLT1 exacerbates phrenic motor neuron degeneration, diaphragm compromise, and forelimb motor dysfunction following cervical contusion spinal cord injury. J Neurosci 2014; 34:7622-38. [PMID: 24872566 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4690-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A major portion of spinal cord injury (SCI) cases affect midcervical levels, the location of the phrenic motor neuron (PhMN) pool that innervates the diaphragm. While initial trauma is uncontrollable, a valuable opportunity exists in the hours to days following SCI for preventing PhMN loss and consequent respiratory dysfunction that occurs during secondary degeneration. One of the primary causes of secondary injury is excitotoxic cell death due to dysregulation of extracellular glutamate homeostasis. GLT1, mainly expressed by astrocytes, is responsible for the vast majority of functional uptake of extracellular glutamate in the CNS, particularly in spinal cord. We found that, in bacterial artificial chromosome-GLT1-enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter mice following unilateral midcervical (C4) contusion SCI, numbers of GLT1-expressing astrocytes in ventral horn and total intraspinal GLT1 protein expression were reduced soon after injury and the decrease persisted for ≥6 weeks. We used intraspinal delivery of adeno-associated virus type 8 (AAV8)-Gfa2 vector to rat cervical spinal cord ventral horn for targeting focal astrocyte GLT1 overexpression in areas of PhMN loss. Intraspinal delivery of AAV8-Gfa2-GLT1 resulted in transduction primarily of GFAP(+) astrocytes that persisted for ≥6 weeks postinjury, as well as increased intraspinal GLT1 protein expression. Surprisingly, we found that astrocyte-targeted GLT1 overexpression increased lesion size, PhMN loss, phrenic nerve axonal degeneration, and diaphragm neuromuscular junction denervation, and resulted in reduced functional diaphragm innervation as assessed by phrenic nerve-diaphragm compound muscle action potential recordings. These results demonstrate that GLT1 overexpression via intraspinal AAV-Gfa2-GLT1 delivery exacerbates neuronal damage and increases respiratory impairment following cervical SCI.
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17
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Li SC, Yin HZ, Loudon WG, Weiss JH. Cultivating stem cells for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. World J Stem Cells 2012; 4:117-9. [PMID: 23516096 PMCID: PMC3600561 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v4.i12.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This editorial addresses the current challenges and future directions in the use of stem cells as an approach for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A wide variety of literature has been reviewed to enlighten the reader on the many facets of stem cell research that are important to consider before using them for a cell based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwen Calvin Li
- Shengwen Calvin Li, William G Loudon, CHOC Children's Hospital, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, United States
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18
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Nicaise C, Putatunda R, Hala TJ, Regan KA, Frank DM, Brion JP, Leroy K, Pochet R, Wright MC, Lepore AC. Degeneration of phrenic motor neurons induces long-term diaphragm deficits following mid-cervical spinal contusion in mice. J Neurotrauma 2012; 29:2748-60. [PMID: 23176637 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2012.2467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A primary cause of morbidity and mortality following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is respiratory compromise, regardless of the level of trauma. In particular, SCI at mid-cervical regions targets degeneration of both descending bulbospinal respiratory axons and cell bodies of phrenic motor neurons, resulting in deficits in the function of the diaphragm, the primary muscle of inspiration. Contusion-type trauma to the cervical spinal cord is one of the most common forms of human SCI; however, few studies have evaluated mid-cervical contusion in animal models or characterized consequent histopathological and functional effects of degeneration of phrenic motor neuron-diaphragm circuitry. We have generated a mouse model of cervical contusion SCI that unilaterally targets both C4 and C5 levels, the location of the phrenic motor neuron pool, and have examined histological and functional outcomes for up to 6 weeks post-injury. We report that phrenic motor neuron loss in cervical spinal cord, phrenic nerve axonal degeneration, and denervation at diaphragm neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) resulted in compromised ipsilateral diaphragm function, as demonstrated by persistent reduction in diaphragm compound muscle action potential amplitudes following phrenic nerve stimulation and abnormalities in spontaneous diaphragm electromyography (EMG) recordings. This injury paradigm is reproducible, does not require ventilatory assistance, and provides proof-of-principle that generation of unilateral cervical contusion is a feasible strategy for modeling diaphragmatic/respiratory deficits in mice. This study and its accompanying analyses pave the way for using transgenic mouse technology to explore the function of specific genes in the pathophysiology of phrenic motor neuron degeneration and respiratory dysfunction following cervical SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Nicaise
- Department of Neuroscience, Farber Institute for Neurosciences, Thomas Jefferson University Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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