1
|
The effect of Matrigel as scaffold material for neural stem cell transplantation for treating spinal cord injury. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2576. [PMID: 32054865 PMCID: PMC7018993 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59148-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic injury to the spinal cord causes permanent loss of function and major personal, social, and economic problems. Cell-based delivery strategies is a promising approach for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the inhospitable microenvironment in the injured spinal cord results in poor cell survival and uncontrolled differentiation of the transplanted stem cells. The combination of a scaffold with cells has been developed with a tendency for achieving greater survival and integration with the host tissue. We investigated the effect of Matrigel combined with neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro and in vivo. We compared the effect of different types of scaffold on the survival and differentiation of brain-derived NSCs in an in vitro culture. Subsequently, NSCs were transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice to detect graft survival and differentiation in vivo. Finally, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), Matrigel alone, or Matrigel seeded with NSCs was injected into 48 subacute, clinically relevant rat models of SCI (16 rats per group). Matrigel supported cell survival and differentiation efficiently in vitro and in vivo. SCI rats transplanted with NSCs in Matrigel showed improved behavioral recovery and neuronal and reactive astrocyte marker expression levels compared to PBS- or Matrigel-transplanted rats. Functional repair and neuronal and reactive astrocyte marker expression was slightly improved in the Matrigel-alone group relative to the PBS group, but not statistically significantly. These data suggest that Matrigel is a promising scaffold material for cell transplantation to the injured spinal cord.
Collapse
|
2
|
Libro R, Bramanti P, Mazzon E. The combined strategy of mesenchymal stem cells and tissue-engineered scaffolds for spinal cord injury regeneration. Exp Ther Med 2017; 14:3355-3368. [PMID: 29042919 PMCID: PMC5639409 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a traumatic lesion that can result in the loss of motor or sensory neurons. Stem cell (SC)-based therapies have been demonstrated to promote neuronal regeneration following SCI, by releasing a range of trophic factors that support endogenous repair or by differentiating into neurons, or glial cells in order to replace the damaged cells. However, numerous limitations remain for therapies based on SC transplantion alone, including a low rate of survival/engraftment. Nevertheless, scaffolds are 3-dimentional substrates that have revealed to support cell survival, proliferation and differentiation in vivo, by mimicking a more favorable endogenous microenvironment. A multidisciplinary approach, which combines engineered scaffolds with SCs has been proposed as a promising strategy for encouraging spinal cord regeneration. The present review has focused on the regenerative potential of mesenchymal SCs isolated from different sources and combined with various scaffold types, in preclinical and clinical SCI studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosaliana Libro
- Department of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi ‘Bonino-Pulejo’, I-98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Placido Bramanti
- Department of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi ‘Bonino-Pulejo’, I-98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mazzon
- Department of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi ‘Bonino-Pulejo’, I-98124 Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiang JL, Guo XD, Zhang SQ, Wang XG, Wu SF. Repetitive magnetic stimulation affects the microenvironment of nerve regeneration and evoked potentials after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2016; 11:816-22. [PMID: 27335567 PMCID: PMC4904474 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.182710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive magnetic stimulation has been shown to alter local blood flow of the brain, excite the corticospinal tract and muscle, and induce motor function recovery. We established a rat model of acute spinal cord injury using the modified Allen's method. After 4 hours of injury, rat models received repetitive magnetic stimulation, with a stimulus intensity of 35% maximum output intensity, 5-Hz frequency, 5 seconds for each sequence, and an interval of 2 minutes. This was repeated for a total of 10 sequences, once a day, 5 days in a week, for 2 consecutive weeks. After repetitive magnetic stimulation, the number of apoptotic cells decreased, matrix metalloproteinase 9/2 gene and protein expression decreased, nestin expression increased, somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials recovered, and motor function recovered in the injured spinal cord. These findings confirm that repetitive magnetic stimulation of the spinal cord improved the microenvironment of neural regeneration, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and induced neuroprotective and repair effects on the injured spinal cord.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Lan Jiang
- Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China; Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xu-Dong Guo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shu-Quan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin-Gang Wang
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shi-Feng Wu
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wu MF, Zhang SQ, Liu JB, Li Y, Zhu QS, Gu R. Neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture on early- and late-stage spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2015; 10:1628-34. [PMID: 26692861 PMCID: PMC4660757 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.167762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the neurite growth inhibitor Nogo-A can cause secondary neural damage by activating RhoA. In the present study, we hypothesized that electroacupuncture promotes neurological functional recovery after spinal cord injury by inhibiting RhoA expression. We established a rat model of acute spinal cord injury using a modification of Allen's method. The rats were given electroacupuncture treatment at Dazhui (Du14), Mingmen (Du4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Huantiao (GB30), Zusanli (ST36) and Kunlun (BL60) acupoints with a sparse-dense wave at a frequency of 4 Hz for 30 minutes, once a day, for a total of 7 days. Seven days after injury, the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale and inclined plane test scores were significantly increased, the number of apoptotic cells in the spinal cord tissue was significantly reduced, and RhoA and Nogo-A mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased in rats given electroacupuncture compared with rats not given electroacupuncture. Four weeks after injury, pathological tissue damage in the spinal cord at the site of injury was alleviated, the numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein- and neurofilament 200-positive fibers were increased, the latencies of somatosensory-evoked and motor-evoked potentials were shortened, and their amplitudes were increased in rats given electroacupuncture. These findings suggest that electroacupuncture treatment reduces neuronal apoptosis and decreases RhoA and Nogo-A mRNA and protein expression at the site of spinal cord injury, thereby promoting tissue repair and neurological functional recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Fei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Bethune Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shu-Quan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jia-Bei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Qing-San Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Rui Gu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang SQ, Wu MF, Liu JB, Li Y, Zhu QS, Gu R. Transplantation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene-transfected Schwann cells for repairing spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2015; 10:2040-7. [PMID: 26889196 PMCID: PMC4730832 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.172324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfection of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene has been shown to increase cell proliferation and enhance tissue repair. In the present study, hTERT was transfected into rat Schwann cells. A rat model of acute spinal cord injury was established by the modified free-falling method. Retrovirus PLXSN was injected at the site of spinal cord injury as a vector to mediate hTERT gene-transfected Schwann cells (1 × 10(10)/L; 10 μL) or Schwann cells (1 × 10(10)/L; 10 μL) without hTERT gene transfection. Between 1 and 4 weeks after model establishment, motor function of the lower limb improved in the hTERT-transfected group compared with the group with non-transfected Schwann cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results revealed that the number of apoptotic cells, and gene expression of aquaporin 4/9 and matrix metalloproteinase 9/2 decreased at the site of injury in both groups; however, the effect improved in the hTERT-transfected group compared with the Schwann cells without hTERT transfection group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, PKH26 fluorescent labeling, and electrophysiological testing demonstrated that compared with the non-transfected group, spinal cord cavity and motor and sensory evoked potential latencies were reduced, while the number of PKH26-positive cells and the motor and sensory evoked potential amplitude increased at the site of injury in the hTERT-transfected group. These findings suggest that transplantation of hTERT gene-transfected Schwann cells repairs the structure and function of the injured spinal cord.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-quan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Min-fei Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Hospital, Second Hospital, Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jia-bei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Qing-san Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Rui Gu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu MF, Zhang SQ, Gu R, Liu JB, Li Y, Zhu QS. Transplantation of erythropoietin gene-modified neural stem cells improves the repair of injured spinal cord. Neural Regen Res 2015; 10:1483-90. [PMID: 26604911 PMCID: PMC4625516 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.165521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The protective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury have not been well described. Here, the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1 human erythropoietin was transfected into rat neural stem cells cultured in vitro. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using a free falling object. In the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group, transfected neural stem cells were injected into the rat subarachnoid cavity, while the neural stem cells group was injected with non-transfected neural stem cells. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 medium was injected into the rats in the spinal cord injury group as a control. At 1–4 weeks post injury, the motor function in the rat lower limbs was best in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group, followed by the neural stem cells group, and lastly the spinal cord injury group. At 72 hours, compared with the spinal cord injury group, the apoptotic index and Caspase-3 gene and protein expressions were apparently decreased, and the bcl-2 gene and protein expressions were noticeably increased, in the tissues surrounding the injured region in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. At 4 weeks, the cavities were clearly smaller and the motor and somatosensory evoked potential latencies were remarkably shorter in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group and neural stem cells group than those in the spinal cord injury group. These differences were particularly obvious in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. More CM-Dil-positive cells and horseradish peroxidase-positive nerve fibers and larger amplitude motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were found in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group and neural stem cells group than in the spinal cord injury group. Again, these differences were particularly obvious in the human erythropoietin-neural stem cells group. These data indicate that transplantation of erythropoietin gene-modified neural stem cells into the subarachnoid cavity to help repair spinal cord injury and promote the recovery of spinal cord function better than neural stem cell transplantation alone. These findings may lead to significant improvements in the clinical treatment of spinal cord injuries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min-Fei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Shu-Quan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Gu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jia-Bei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Qing-San Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang JW, Yang JF, Ma Y, Hua Z, Guo Y, Gu XL, Zhang YF. Nogo-A expression dynamically varies after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2015; 10:225-9. [PMID: 25883620 PMCID: PMC4392669 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.152375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism involved in neural regeneration after spinal cord injury is unclear. The myelin-derived protein Nogo-A, which is specific to the central nervous system, has been identified to negatively affect the cytoskeleton and growth program of axotomized neurons. Studies have shown that Nogo-A exerts immediate and chronic inhibitory effects on neurite outgrowth. In vivo, inhibitors of Nogo-A have been shown to lead to a marked enhancement of regenerative axon extension. We established a spinal cord injury model in rats using a free-falling weight drop device to subsequently investigate Nogo-A expression. Nogo-A mRNA and protein expression and immunoreactivity were detected in spinal cord tissue using real-time quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, Nogo-A protein and mRNA expression was low in the injured group compared with control and sham-operated groups. The levels then continued to drop further and were at their lowest at 3 days, rapidly rose to a peak after 7 days, and then gradually declined again after 14 days. These changes were observed at both the mRNA and protein level. The transient decrease observed early after injury followed by high levels for a few days indicates Nogo-A expression is time dependent. This may contribute to the lack of regeneration in the central nervous system after spinal cord injury. The dynamic variation of Nogo-A should be taken into account in the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian-wei Wang
- Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jun-feng Yang
- Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yong Ma
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhen Hua
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao-lin Gu
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ya-feng Zhang
- Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|