1
|
Huang Y, Mai Y, Ye W, Lv S, Zhou Y, Wu P, Zhou L, Li Y, Zhong K. Brachial Plexus Root Avulsion Injury-Induced Endothelin-Converting Enzyme-Like 1 Overexpression Is Associated with Injured Motor Neurons Survival. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-023-03887-7. [PMID: 38170441 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03887-7] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Brachial plexus root avulsion (BPRA) injury arises from challenging delivery during childbirth, sports-related incidents, or car accidents, leading to extensive loss of motor neurons (MNs) and subsequent paralysis, including both motor and sensory impairment. Surgical nerve re-implantation cannot effectively restore motor function, and the survival of injured MNs is vital for axon regeneration and re-innervating the target muscles. Therefore, identifying novel molecular targets to improve injured MNs survival is of great significance in the treatment of BPRA injuries. Endothelin-converting enzyme-like 1 (ECEL1), a membrane-bound metallopeptidase, was initially identified as a molecule associated with nerve injuries. Damaged neurons exhibit a significant increase in the expression of ECEL1 following various types of nerve injuries, such as optic nerve injury and sciatic nerve injury. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ECEL1 overexpression and the survival of injured MNs following BPRA injury. Our results observed a significant elevation in ECEL1 expression in injured MNs and positively correlated with MNs survival following BPRA injury. The transcription of ECEL1 is regulated by the transcription factors c-Jun and ATF3 in the context of BPRA injury, which is consistent with previous other nerve injuries study. In addition, the expression of TrkA gradually decreases in ECEL1-positive MNs and ECEL1 possibly preserves the activity of downstream AKT-GSK3β pathway of TrkA in injured MNs. In conclusion, our results introduce a promising therapeutic molecular target to assist re-implantation surgery for the treatment of BPRA injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunlin Mai
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weijian Ye
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiqin Lv
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingying Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pingzhen Wu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingqin Li
- Department of Radiology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 52 Mei Hua East Road, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ke Zhong
- Department of Pharmacy, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Milton AJ, Kwok JC, McClellan J, Randall SG, Lathia JD, Warren PM, Silver DJ, Silver J. Recovery of Forearm and Fine Digit Function After Chronic Spinal Cord Injury by Simultaneous Blockade of Inhibitory Matrix Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Production and the Receptor PTPσ. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:2500-2521. [PMID: 37606910 PMCID: PMC10698859 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0117] [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] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries (SCI), for which there are limited effective treatments, result in enduring paralysis and hypoesthesia, in part because of the inhibitory microenvironment that develops and limits regeneration/sprouting, especially during chronic stages. Recently, we discovered that targeted enzymatic removal of the inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) component of the extracellular and perineuronal net (PNN) matrix via Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) rapidly restored robust respiratory function to the previously paralyzed hemi-diaphragm after remarkably long times post-injury (up to 1.5 years) following a cervical level 2 lateral hemi-transection. Importantly, ChABC treatment at cervical level 4 in this chronic model also elicited improvements in gross upper arm function. In the present study, we focused on arm and hand function, seeking to highlight and optimize crude as well as fine motor control of the forearm and digits at lengthy chronic stages post-injury. However, instead of using ChABC, we utilized a novel and more clinically relevant systemic combinatorial treatment strategy designed to simultaneously reduce and overcome inhibitory CSPGs. Following a 3-month upper cervical spinal hemi-lesion using adult female Sprague Dawley rats, we show that the combined treatment had a profound effect on functional recovery of the chronically paralyzed forelimb and paw, as well as on precision movements of the digits. The regenerative and immune system related events that we describe deepen our basic understanding of the crucial role of CSPG-mediated inhibition via the PTPσ receptor in constraining functional synaptic plasticity at lengthy time points following SCI, hopefully leading to clinically relevant translational benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna J. Milton
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jessica C.F. Kwok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jacob McClellan
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sabre G. Randall
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Justin D. Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Philippa M. Warren
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Silver
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jerry Silver
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|