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Torrillas de la Cal A, Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Faulkes CG, Jiménez AJ, Ferrer I, Molina-Holgado E, Garcia-Ovejero D. The Structure of the Spinal Cord Ependymal Region in Adult Humans Is a Distinctive Trait among Mammals. Cells 2021; 10:2235. [PMID: 34571884 PMCID: PMC8469235 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In species that regenerate the injured spinal cord, the ependymal region is a source of new cells and a prominent coordinator of regeneration. In mammals, cells at the ependymal region proliferate in normal conditions and react after injury, but in humans, the central canal is lost in the majority of individuals from early childhood. It is replaced by a structure that does not proliferate after damage and is formed by large accumulations of ependymal cells, strong astrogliosis and perivascular pseudo-rosettes. We inform here of two additional mammals that lose the central canal during their lifetime: the Naked Mole-Rat (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber) and the mutant hyh (hydrocephalus with hop gait) mice. The morphological study of their spinal cords shows that the tissue substituting the central canal is not similar to that found in humans. In both NMR and hyh mice, the central canal is replaced by tissue reminiscent of normal lamina X and may include small groups of ependymal cells in the midline, partially resembling specific domains of the former canal. However, no features of the adult human ependymal remnant are found, suggesting that this structure is a specific human trait. In order to shed some more light on the mechanism of human central canal closure, we provide new data suggesting that canal patency is lost by delamination of the ependymal epithelium, in a process that includes apical polarity loss and the expression of signaling mediators involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Torrillas de la Cal
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Beatriz Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Christopher Guy Faulkes
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK;
| | - Antonio Jesús Jiménez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29010 Malaga, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d’Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
| | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (A.T.d.l.C.); (B.P.-T.); (A.A.-M.); (E.M.-H.)
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Molina-Holgado E, Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Moreno-Luna R, Esteban PF, Le MQU, Del Cerro MDM, Garcia-Ovejero D. Cannabinoid Receptor 1 associates to different molecular complexes during GABAergic neuron maturation. J Neurochem 2021; 158:640-656. [PMID: 33942314 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CB1 cannabinoid receptor is widely expressed in the central nervous system of animals from late prenatal development to adulthood. Appropriate activation and signaling of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in cortical interneurons are crucial during perinatal/postnatal ages and adolescence, when long-lasting changes in brain activity may elicit subsequent appearance of disorders in the adult brain. Here we used an optimized immunoprecipitation protocol based on specific antibodies followed by shot-gun proteomics to find CB1 interacting partners in postnatal rat GABAergic cortical neurons in vitro at two different stages of maturation. Besides describing new proteins associated with CB1 like dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (DLAT), fatty acid synthase (FASN), tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ), voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), myosin phosphatase Rho-interacting protein (MPRIP) or usher syndrome type-1C protein-binding protein 1 (USHBP1), we show that the signaling complex of CB1 is different between maturational stages. Interestingly, the CB1 signaling complex is enriched at the more immature stage in mitochondrial associated proteins and metabolic molecular functions, whereas at more mature stage, CB1 complex is increased in maturation and synaptic-associated proteins. We describe also interacting partners specifically immunoprecipitated with either N-terminal or C-terminal CB1 directed antibodies. Our results highlight new players that may be affected by altered cannabinoid signaling at this critical window of postnatal cortical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Rafael Moreno-Luna
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Pedro F Esteban
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Minh Quynh Uyen Le
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
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Moreno-Luna R, Esteban PF, Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Garcia-Ovejero D, Molina-Holgado E. Heterogeneity of the Endocannabinoid System Between Cerebral Cortex and Spinal Cord Oligodendrocytes. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:689-702. [PMID: 33006124 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02148-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In the last years, regional differences have been reported between the brain and spinal cord oligodendrocytes, which should be considered when designing therapeutic strategies for myelin repair. Promising targets to achieve myelin restoration are the different components of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that modulate oligodendrocyte biology, but almost all studies have been focused on brain-derived cells. Therefore, we compared the ECS between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes (OLs). Cells from both regions express synthesizing and degrading enzymes for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and degrading enzymes increase with maturation, more notably in the spinal cord (monoglyceride lipase-MGLL, alpha/beta hydrolase domain-containing 6-ABHD6, and alpha/beta hydrolase domain-containing 12-ABHD12). In addition, spinal cord OPCs express higher levels of the synthesizing enzymes diacylglycerol lipases alpha (DAGLA) and beta (DAGLB) than cortical ones, DAGLA reaching statistical significance. Cells from both the cortex and spinal cord express low levels of NAEs synthesizing enzymes, except for the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 1 (GDE-1) but high levels of the degrading enzyme fatty acid amidohydrolase (FAAH) that increases with maturation. Finally, cells from both regions show similar levels of CB1 receptor and GPR55, but spinal cord-derived cells show significantly higher levels of transient receptor potential cation channel V1 (TRPV1) and CB2. Overall, our results show that the majority of the ECS components could be targeted in OPCs and OLs from both the spinal cord and brain, but regional heterogeneity has to be considered for DAGLA, MGLL, ABHD6, ABHD12, GDE1, CB2, or TRPV1.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Moreno-Luna
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - P F Esteban
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - B Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - A Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - D Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
| | - E Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation (lab i2 06), Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos-SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
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Esteban PF, Garcia-Ovejero D, Paniagua-Torija B, Moreno-Luna R, Arredondo LF, Zimmer A, Arevalo-Martin A, Molina-Holgado E. Revisiting CB1 cannabinoid receptor detection and the exploration of its interacting partners. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 337:108680. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Paniagua-Torija B, Norenberg M, Arevalo-Martin A, Carballosa-Gautam MM, Campos-Martin Y, Molina-Holgado E, Garcia-Ovejero D. Cells in the adult human spinal cord ependymal region do not proliferate after injury. J Pathol 2018; 246:415-421. [PMID: 30091291 DOI: 10.1002/path.5151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates that regenerate the injured spinal cord, cells at the ependymal region proliferate and coordinate the formation of bridges between the lesion stumps. In mammals, these cells also proliferate profusely around the central canal after spinal cord injury, although their actual contribution to repair is controversial. In humans, however, the central canal disappears from early childhood in the majority of individuals, being replaced by astrocyte gliosis, ependymocyte clusters, and perivascular pseudo-rosettes. In this human ependymal remnant, cells do not proliferate under normal conditions, but it is not known if they do after a lesion. Here, we studied the human ependymal remnant after traumatic spinal cord injury using samples from 21 individuals with survival times ranging from days to months post-injury. With three different monoclonal antibodies raised against two different proliferation markers (Ki67 and MCM2), we found that the ependymal remnant in adult humans does not proliferate after injury at any time or distance from the lesion. Our results seriously challenge the view of the spinal cord ependymal region as a neurogenic niche in adult humans and suggest that it would not be involved in cell replacement after a lesion. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Norenberg
- Department of Neurological Surgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Melissa M Carballosa-Gautam
- Department of Neurological Surgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
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Arevalo-Martin A, Grassner L, Garcia-Ovejero D, Paniagua-Torija B, Barroso-Garcia G, Arandilla AG, Mach O, Turrero A, Vargas E, Alcobendas M, Rosell C, Alcaraz MA, Ceruelo S, Casado R, Talavera F, Palazón R, Sanchez-Blanco N, Maier D, Esclarin A, Molina-Holgado E. Elevated Autoantibodies in Subacute Human Spinal Cord Injury Are Naturally Occurring Antibodies. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2365. [PMID: 30364218 PMCID: PMC6193075 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in long-term neurological and systemic consequences, including antibody-mediated autoimmunity, which has been related to impaired functional recovery. Here we show that autoantibodies that increase at the subacute phase of human SCI, 1 month after lesion, are already present in healthy subjects and directed against non-native proteins rarely present in the normal spinal cord. The increase of these autoantibodies is a fast phenomenon–their levels are already elevated before 5 days after lesion–characteristic of secondary immune responses, further supporting their origin as natural antibodies. By proteomics studies we have identified that the increased autoantibodies are directed against 16 different nervous system and systemic self-antigens related to changes known to occur after SCI, including alterations in neural cell cytoskeleton, metabolism and bone remodeling. Overall, in the context of previous studies, our results offer an explanation to why autoimmunity develops after SCI and identify novel targets involved in SCI pathology that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Lukas Grassner
- Center for Spinal Cord Injuries, Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany.,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Gemma Barroso-Garcia
- Proteomics Core Facility, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Alba G Arandilla
- Proteomics Core Facility, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Orpheus Mach
- Center for Spinal Cord Injuries, Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany
| | - Angela Turrero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Eduardo Vargas
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Monica Alcobendas
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Carmen Rosell
- Department of Occupational Health, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Maria A Alcaraz
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Silvia Ceruelo
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Rosa Casado
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Francisco Talavera
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Ramiro Palazón
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Doris Maier
- Center for Spinal Cord Injuries, Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany
| | - Ana Esclarin
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
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Gonzalez-Fernandez C, Arevalo-Martin A, Paniagua-Torija B, Ferrer I, Rodriguez FJ, Garcia-Ovejero D. Wnts Are Expressed in the Ependymal Region of the Adult Spinal Cord. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6342-6355. [PMID: 27722925 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt family of proteins plays key roles during central nervous system development and in several physiological processes during adulthood. Recently, experimental evidence has linked Wnt-related genes to regulation and maintenance of stem cells in the adult neurogenic niches. In the spinal cord, the ependymal cells surrounding the central canal form one of those niches, but little is known about their Wnt expression patterns. Using microdissection followed by TaqMan® low-density arrays, we show here that the ependymal regions of young, mature rats and adult humans express several Wnt-related genes, including ligands, conventional and non-conventional receptors, co-receptors, and soluble inhibitors. We found 13 genes shared between rats and humans, 4 exclusively expressed in rats and 9 expressed only in humans. Also, we observed a reduction with age on spontaneous proliferation of ependymal cells in rats paralleled by a decrease in the expression of Fzd1, Fzd8, and Fzd9. Our results suggest a role for Wnts in the regulation of the adult spinal cord neurogenic niche and provide new data on the specific differences in this region between humans and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Gonzalez-Fernandez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Serveid'AnatomiaPatològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Francisco J Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
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Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Ferrer I, Molina-Holgado E, Garcia-Ovejero D. CB1 cannabinoid receptor enrichment in the ependymal region of the adult human spinal cord. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17745. [PMID: 26634814 PMCID: PMC4669459 DOI: 10.1038/srep17745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids are involved in the regulation of neural stem cell biology and their receptors are expressed in the neurogenic niches of adult rodents. In the spinal cord of rats and mice, neural stem cells can be found in the ependymal region, surrounding the central canal, but there is evidence that this region is largely different in adult humans: lacks a patent canal and presents perivascular pseudorosettes, typically found in low grade ependymomas. Using Laser Capture Microdissection, Taqman gene expression assays and immunohistochemistry, we have studied the expression of endocannabinoid system components (receptors and enzymes) at the human spinal cord ependymal region. We observe that ependymal region is enriched in CB1 cannabinoid receptor, due to high CB1 expression in GFAP+ astrocytic domains. However, in human spinal cord levels that retain central canal patency we found ependymal cells with high CB1 expression, equivalent to the CB1HIGH cell subpopulation described in rodents. Our results support the existence of ependymal CB1HIGH cells across species, and may encourage further studies on this subpopulation, although only in cases when central canal is patent. In the adult human ependyma, which usually shows central canal absence, CB1 may play a different role by modulating astrocyte functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
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Garcia-Ovejero D, Arevalo-Martin A, Paniagua-Torija B, Florensa-Vila J, Ferrer I, Grassner L, Molina-Holgado E. The ependymal region of the adult human spinal cord differs from other species and shows ependymoma-like features. Brain 2015; 138:1583-97. [PMID: 25882650 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several laboratories have described the existence of undifferentiated precursor cells that may act like stem cells in the ependyma of the rodent spinal cord. However, there are reports showing that this region is occluded and disassembled in humans after the second decade of life, although this has been largely ignored or interpreted as a post-mortem artefact. To gain insight into the patency, actual structure, and molecular properties of the adult human spinal cord ependymal region, we followed three approaches: (i) with MRI, we estimated the central canal patency in 59 control subjects, 99 patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, and 26 patients with non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. We observed that the central canal is absent from the vast majority of individuals beyond the age of 18 years, gender-independently, throughout the entire length of the spinal cord, both in healthy controls and after injury; (ii) with histology and immunohistochemistry, we describe morphological properties of the non-lesioned ependymal region, which showed the presence of perivascular pseudorosettes, a common feature of ependymoma; and (iii) with laser capture microdissection, followed by TaqMan® low density arrays, we studied the gene expression profile of the ependymal region and found that it is mainly enriched in genes compatible with a low grade or quiescent ependymoma (53 genes); this region is enriched only in 14 genes related to neurogenic niches. In summary, we demonstrate here that the central canal is mainly absent in the adult human spinal cord and is replaced by a structure morphologically and molecularly different from that described for rodents and other primates. The presented data suggest that the ependymal region is more likely to be reminiscent of a low-grade ependymoma. Therefore, a direct translation to adult human patients of an eventual therapeutic potential of this region based on animal models should be approached with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- 1 Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Angel Arevalo-Martin
- 1 Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Paniagua-Torija
- 1 Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - José Florensa-Vila
- 2 Radiology Unit, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- 3 Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patolo`gica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Lukas Grassner
- 4 Center for Spinal Cord Injuries, Trauma Center Murnau, Germany 5 Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, SCI-TReCS (Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Eduardo Molina-Holgado
- 1 Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
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Garcia-Ovejero D, González S, Paniagua-Torija B, Lima A, Molina-Holgado E, De Nicola AF, Labombarda F. Progesterone reduces secondary damage, preserves white matter, and improves locomotor outcome after spinal cord contusion. J Neurotrauma 2014; 31:857-71. [PMID: 24460450 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2013.3162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is an anti-inflammatory and promyelinating agent after spinal cord injury, but its effectiveness on functional recovery is still controversial. In the current study, we tested the effects of chronic progesterone administration on tissue preservation and functional recovery in a clinically relevant model of spinal cord lesion (thoracic contusion). Using magnetic resonance imaging, we observed that progesterone reduced both volume and rostrocaudal extension of the lesion at 60 days post-injury. In addition, progesterone increased the number of total mature oligodendrocytes, myelin basic protein immunoreactivity, and the number of axonal profiles at the epicenter of the lesion. Further, progesterone treatment significantly improved motor outcome as assessed using the Basso-Bresnahan-Beattie scale for locomotion and CatWalk gait analysis. These data suggest that progesterone could be considered a promising therapeutical candidate for spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
- 1 Laboratorio de Neuroinflamación, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos , Toledo, Spain
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Paniagua-Torija B, Arevalo-Martin A, Molina-Holgado E, Molina-Holgado F, Garcia-Ovejero D. Spinal cord injury induces a long-lasting upregulation of interleukin-1β in astrocytes around the central canal. Neuroscience 2014; 284:283-289. [PMID: 25453765 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Under inflammatory conditions, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) modulates neural stem cells at neurogenic niches. Here we show that spinal cord injury in rats increases IL-1β expression in astrocytes located around the spinal cord ependyma, a region that also holds a neurogenic potential. IL-1β increases from day 1 after lesion, reaches maximal levels between days 3 and 7, and declines from 14 days to low levels after 28 days. At the time of maximal expression, periependymal upregulation of IL-1β extends beyond 5 mm from the epicenter of the lesion both rostral and caudally. Since IL-1β controls proliferation and cell fate of neural stem/precursor cells, its modulation in periependymal astrocytes might create an appropriate environment for cell replacement after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Paniagua-Torija
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Unidad de Neurologia Experimental, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - A Arevalo-Martin
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Unidad de Neurologia Experimental, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - E Molina-Holgado
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Unidad de Neurologia Experimental, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - F Molina-Holgado
- Neural Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK.
| | - D Garcia-Ovejero
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Unidad de Neurologia Experimental, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos (SESCAM), 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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Garcia-Ovejero D, Arevalo-Martin A, Paniagua-Torija B, Sierra-Palomares Y, Molina-Holgado E. A cell population that strongly expresses the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the ependyma of the rat spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 2012; 521:233-51. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.23184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Revised: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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