Spinal Cord Injury Impairs Neurogenesis and Induces Glial Reactivity in the Hippocampus

Potential role of hippocampal neurogenesis in spinal cord injury induced post-trauma depression

It has been reported both in clinic and rodent models that beyond spinal cord injury directly induced symptoms, such as paralysis, neuropathic pain, bladder/bowel dysfunction, and loss of sexual function, there are a variety of secondary complications, including memory loss, cognitive decline, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. The large-scale longitudinal population-based studies indicate that post-trauma depression is highly prevalent in spinal cord injury patients. Yet, few basic studies have been conducted to address the potential molecular mechanisms. One of possible factors underlying the depression is the reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis which may come from less physical activity, social isolation, chronic pain, and elevated neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury. However, there is no clear consensus yet. In this review, we will first summarize the alteration of hippocampal neurogenesis post-spinal cord injury. Then, we will discuss possible mechanisms underlie this important spinal cord injury consequence. Finally, we will outline the potential therapeutic options aimed at enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis to ameliorate depression.

Instrumental successive negative contrast in rats: Trial distribution, reward magnitude, and prefrontal cortex activation

Successive negative contrast (SNC) has been used to study reward relativity, reward loss, and frustration for decades. In instrumental SNC (iSNC), the anticipatory performance of animals downshifted from a large reward to a small reward is compared to that of animals always reinforced with the small reward. iSNC involves a transient deterioration of anticipatory behavior in downshifted animals compared to unshifted controls. There is scattered information on the optimal parameters to produce this effect and even less information about its neural basis. Five experiments with rats trained in a runway to collect food pellets explored the effects of trial distribution (massed or spaced), amount of preshift training, reward disparity, and reward magnitude on the development of an iSNC effect. Start, run, and goal latencies were measured. Using spaced trials (one trial per day), evidence of the iSNC effect was observed with 24 preshift trials and a 32-to-4 pellet disparity. With massed trials (4 trials per session separated by 30-s intertrial intervals), evidence of iSNC was found with 12 preshift sessions (a total of 48 trials) and a 16-to-2 pellet disparity. The massed-training procedure was then used to assess neural activity in three prefrontal cortex areas using c-Fos expression in animals perfused after the first downshift session. There was evidence of increased activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and a trend toward increased activation in the infralimbic and prelimbic cortices. These procedures open a venue for studying the neural basis of the instrumental behavior of animals that experience reward loss.

Brain region changes following a spinal cord injury

Brain-related complications are common in clinical practice after spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the molecular mechanisms of these complications are still unclear. Here, we reviewed the changes in the brain regions caused by SCI from three perspectives: imaging, molecular analysis, and electrophysiology. Imaging studies revealed abnormal functional connectivity, gray matter volume atrophy, and metabolic abnormalities in brain regions after SCI, leading to changes in the structure and function of brain regions. At the molecular level, chemokines, inflammatory factors, and damage-associated molecular patterns produced in the injured area were retrogradely transmitted through the corticospinal tract, cerebrospinal fluid, or blood circulation to the specific brain area to cause pathologic changes. Electrophysiologic recordings also suggested abnormal changes in brain electrical activity after SCI. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and deep brain stimulation alleviated pain and improved motor function in patients with SCI; therefore, transcranial therapy may be a new strategy for the treatment of patients with SCI.

Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Post-Spinal-Cord-Injury Anxiety and Depression: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

The majority of research on the long-term effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) has primarily focused on neuropathic pain (NP), psychological issues, and sensorimotor impairments. Among SCI patients, mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have been extensively studied. It has been found that chronic stress and NP have negative consequences and reduce the quality of life for individuals living with SCI. Our review examined both human and experimental evidence to explore the connection between mood changes following SCI and inflammatory pathways, with a specific focus on NLRP3 inflammasome signaling. We observed increased proinflammatory factors in the blood, as well as in the brain and spinal cord tissues of SCI models. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a crucial role in various diseases by controlling the release of proinflammatory molecules like interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Dysregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in key brain regions associated with pain processing, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, contributes to the development of mood disorders following SCI. In this review, we summarized recent research on the expression and regulation of components related to NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in mood disorders following SCI. Finally, we discussed potential therapeutic approaches that target the NLRP3 inflammasome and regulate proinflammatory cytokines as a way to treat mood disorders following SCI.

Sexually dimorphic extracellular vesicle responses after chronic spinal cord injury are associated with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the aged brain

BACKGROUND

Medical advances have made it increasingly possible for spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors to survive decades after the insult. But how SCI affects aging changes and aging impacts the injury process have received limited attention. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as critical mediators of neuroinflammation after CNS injury, including at a distance from the lesion site. We have previously shown that SCI in young male mice leads to robust changes in plasma EV count and microRNA (miR) content. Here, our goal was to investigate the impact of biological sex and aging on EVs and brain after SCI.

METHODS

Young adult age-matched male and female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to SCI. At 19 months post-injury, total plasma EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). EVs miR cargo was examined using the Fireplex® assay. The transcriptional changes in the brain were assessed by a NanoString nCounter Neuropathology panel and validated by Western blot (WB) and flow cytometry (FC). A battery of behavioral tests was performed for assessment of neurological function.

RESULTS

Transcriptomic changes showed a high number of changes between sham and those with SCI. Sex-specific changes were found in transcription networks related to disease association, activated microglia, and vesicle trafficking. FC showed higher microglia and myeloid counts in the injured tissue of SCI/Female compared to their male counterparts, along with higher microglial production of ROS in both injured site and the brain. In the latter, increased levels of TNF and mitochondrial membrane potential were seen in microglia from SCI/Female. WB and NTA revealed that EV markers are elevated in the plasma of SCI/Male. Particle concentration in the cortex increased after injury, with SCI/Female showing higher counts than SCI/Male. EVs cargo analysis revealed changes in miR content related to injury and sex. Behavioral testing confirmed impairment of cognition and depression at chronic time points after SCI in both sexes, without significant differences between males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to show sexually dimorphic changes in brain after very long-term SCI and supports a potential sex-dependent EV-mediated mechanism that contributes to SCI-induced brain changes.

Hydralazine Promotes Central Nervous System Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation through Macrophage Regulation

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the effects of hydralazine on inflammation induced by spinal cord injury (SCI) in the central nervous system (CNS) and its mechanism in promoting the structural and functional recovery of the injured CNS.

METHODS

A compressive SCI mouse model was utilized for this investigation. Immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were employed to examine the levels of acrolein, acrolein-induced inflammation-related factors, and macrophages at the injury site and within the CNS. Western blotting was used to evaluate the activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway to study macrophage regulation. The neuropathic pain and motor function recovery were evaluated by glutamic acid decarboxylase 65/67 (GAD65/67), vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), paw withdrawal response, and Basso Mouse Scale score. Nissl staining and Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining were performed to investigate the structural recovery of the injured CNS.

RESULTS

Hydralazine downregulated the levels of acrolein, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the spinal cord. The downregulation of acrolein induced by hydralazine promoted the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, leading to M2 macrophage polarization, which protected neurons against SCI-induced inflammation. Additionally, hydralazine promoted the structural recovery of the injured spinal cord area. Mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress by hydralazine in the animal model alleviated neuropathic pain and altered neurotransmitter expression. Furthermore, hydralazine facilitated motor function recovery following SCI. Nissl staining and LFB staining indicated that hydralazine promoted the structural recovery of the injured CNS.

CONCLUSION

Hydralazine, an acrolein scavenger, significantly mitigated SCI-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo, modulated macrophage activation, and consequently promoted the structural and functional recovery of the injured CNS.

Spinal cord injury leads to more neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of aged male rats compared to young rats

Although the disruptive effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) on the hippocampus have been confirmed in some animal studies, no study has investigated its retrograde manifestations in the hippocampus of aged subjects. Herein, we compared the aged rats with young ones 3 weeks after the induction of SCI (Groups: Sham.Young, SCI.Young, Sham.Aged, SCI.Aged). The locomotion, hippocampal apoptosis, hippocampal rhythms (Delta, Theta, Beta, Gamma) max frequency (Max.rf) and power, hippocampal neurogenesis, and hippocampal receptors (NMDA, GABA A, Muscarinic1/M1), which are important in the generation of rhythms and neurogenesis, were compared in aged rats in contrast to young rats. At the end of the third week, the number of apoptotic (Tunel⁺) cells in the hippocampus (CA1, DG) of SCI animals was significantly higher compared to the sham animals, and also, it was significantly higher in the SCI.Aged group compared to SCI.Young group. Moreover, the rate of neurogenesis (DCX⁺, BrdU⁺ cells) and expression of M1 and NMDA receptors were significantly lower in the SCI.Aged group compared to SCI.Young group. The power and Max.fr of all rhythms were significantly lower in SCI groups compared to sham groups. Despite the decrease in the power of rhythms in the SCI.Aged group compared to SCI.Young group, there was no significant difference between them, and in terms of Max.fr index, only the Max.fr of theta and beta rhythms were significantly lower in the SCI.Aged group compared to SCI.Young group. This study showed that SCI could cause more neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of aged animals compared to young animals.

Brain and spinal cord trauma: what we know about the therapeutic potential of insulin growth factor 1 gene therapy

Although little attention has been paid to cognitive and emotional dysfunctions observed in patients after spinal cord injury, several reports have described impairments in cognitive abilities. Our group also has contributed significantly to the study of cognitive impairments in a rat model of spinal cord injury. These findings are very significant because they demonstrate that cognitive and mood deficits are not induced by lifestyle changes, drugs of abuse, and combined medication. They are related to changes in brain structures involved in cognition and emotion, such as the hippocampus. Chronic spinal cord injury decreases neurogenesis, enhances glial reactivity leading to hippocampal neuroinflammation, and triggers cognitive deficits. These brain distal abnormalities are recently called tertiary damage. Given that there is no treatment for Tertiary Damage, insulin growth factor 1 gene therapy emerges as a good candidate. Insulin growth factor 1 gene therapy recovers neurogenesis and induces the polarization from pro-inflammatory towards anti-inflammatory microglial phenotypes, which represents a potential strategy to treat the neuroinflammation that supports tertiary damage. Insulin growth factor 1 gene therapy can be extended to other central nervous system pathologies such as traumatic brain injury where the neuroinflammatory component is crucial. Insulin growth factor 1 gene therapy could emerge as a new therapeutic strategy for treating traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Intersection of hippocampus and spinal cord: a focus on the hippocampal alpha-synuclein accumulation, dopaminergic receptors, neurogenesis, and cognitive function following spinal cord injury in male rats

Background

Following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), innumerable inflammatory and degenerative fluctuations appear in the injured site, and even remotely in manifold areas of the brain. Howbeit, inflammatory, degenerative, and oscillatory changes of motor cortices have been demonstrated to be due to SCI, according to recent studies confirming the involvement of cognitive areas of the brain, such as hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Therefore, addressing SCI induced cognitive complications via different sights can be contributory in the treatment approaches.

Results

Herein, we used 16 male Wistar rats (Sham = 8, SCI = 8). Immunohistochemical results revealed that spinal cord contusion significantly increases the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and decreases the expression of Doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampal regions like Cornu Ammonis1 (CA1) and Dentate Gyrus (DG). Theses degenerative manifestations were parallel with a low expression of Achaete-Scute Family BHLH Transcription Factor 1 (ASCL1), SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2), and dopaminergic receptors (D1 and D5). Additionally, based on the TUNEL assay analysis, SCI significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells in the CA1 and DG regions. Cognitive function of the animals was assessed, using the O-X maze and Novel Object Recognition (NORT); the obtained findings indicted that after SCI, hippocampal neurodegeneration significantly coincides with the impairment of learning, memory and recognition capability of the injured animals.

Conclusions

Based on the obtained findings, herein SCI reduces neurogenesis, decreases the expression of D1 and D5, and increases apoptosis in the hippocampus, which are all associated with cognitive function deficits.

Graphical Abstract

Hippocampal Mitochondrial Abnormalities Induced the Dendritic Complexity Reduction and Cognitive Decline in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in addition to a traumatic event. Cognitive dysfunction following SCI has been widely reported in patients and animal models. However, the neuroanatomical changes affecting cognitive function after SCI, as well as the mechanisms behind these changes, have so far remained elusive. Herein, we found that SCI accelerates oxidative stress damage of hippocampal neuronal mitochondria. Then, for the first time, we presented a three-dimensional morphological atlas of rat hippocampal neurons generated using a fluorescence Micro-Optical Sectioning Tomography system, a method that accurately identifies the spatial localization of neurons and trace neurites. We showed that the number of dendritic branches and dendritic length was decreased in late stage of SCI. Western blot and transmission electron microscopy analyses also showed a decrease in synaptic communication. In addition, a battery of behavioral tests in these animals revealed hippocampal based cognitive dysfunction, which could be attributed to changes in the dendritic complexity of hippocampal neurons. Taken together, these results suggested that mitochondrial abnormalities in hippocampal neurons induced the dendritic complexity reduction and cognitive decline following SCI. Our study highlights the neuroanatomical basis and importance of mitochondria in brain degeneration following SCI, which might contribute to propose new therapeutic strategies.

The Restorative Effect of Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells on Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition within the neural system which is clinically manifested by sensory-motor dysfunction, leading, in some cases, to neural paralysis for the rest of the patient’s life. In the current study, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from the human amniotic fluid, in order to study their juxtacrine and paracrine activities. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to identify the MSCs. A conditioned medium (CM) was collected to measure the level of BDNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 proteins using the ELISA assay. Following the SCI induction, MSCs and CM were injected into the lesion site, and also CM was infused intraperitoneally in the different groups. Two weeks after SCI induction, the spinal cord samples were examined to evaluate the expression of the doublecortin (DCX) and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) markers using immunofluorescence staining. The MSCs’ phenotype was confirmed upon the expression and un-expression of the related CD markers. Our results show that MSCs increased the expression level of the DCX and decreased the level of the GFAP relative to the injury group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the CM promoted the DCX expression rate (p < 0.001) and decreased the GFAP expression rate (p < 0.01) as compared with the injury group. Noteworthily, the restorative potential of the MSCs was higher than that of the CM (p < 0.01). Large-scale meta-analysis of transcriptomic data highlighted PAK5, ST8SIA3, and NRXN1 as positively coexpressed genes with DCX. These genes are involved in neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction. Overall, our data revealed that both therapeutic interventions could promote the regeneration and restoration of the damaged neural tissue by increasing the rate of neuroblasts and decreasing the astrocytes.

IGF1 Gene Therapy Reversed Cognitive Deficits and Restored Hippocampal Alterations After Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

The hippocampus is implicated in the generation of memory and learning, processes which involve extensive neuroplasticity. The generation of hippocampal adult-born neurons is particularly regulated by glial cells of the neurogenic niche and the surrounding microenvironment. Interestingly, recent evidence has shown that spinal cord injury (SCI) in rodents leads to hippocampal neuroinflammation, neurogenesis reduction, and cognitive impairments. In this scenario, the aim of this work was to evaluate whether an adenoviral vector expressing IGF1 could reverse hippocampal alterations and cognitive deficits after chronic SCI. SCI caused neurogenesis reduction and impairments of both recognition and working memories. We also found that SCI increased the number of hypertrophic arginase-1 negative microglia concomitant with the decrease of the number of ramified surveillance microglia in the hilus, molecular layer, and subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. RAd-IGF1 treatment restored neurogenesis and improved recognition and working memory impairments. In addition, RAd-IGF1 gene therapy modulated differentially hippocampal regions. In the hilus and molecular layer, IGF1 gene therapy recovered the number of surveillance microglia coincident with a reduction of hypertrophic microglia cell number. However, in the neurogenic niche, IGF1 reduced the number of ramified microglia and increased the number of hypertrophic microglia, which as a whole expressed arginase-1. In summary, RAd-IGF1 gene therapy might surge as a new therapeutic strategy for patients with hippocampal microglial alterations and cognitive deficits such as those with spinal cord injury and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Inflammation increases the development of depression behaviors in male rats after spinal cord injury

Following spinal cord injury, 18-26% of patients are diagnosed with depressive disorders, compared to 8-12% in the general population. As increased inflammation strongly correlates with depression in both animal and human studies, we hypothesized that the immune activation inherent to SCI could increase depression-like behavior. Thus, we proposed that reducing immune activation with minocycline, a microglial inhibitor, would decrease depression-like behavior following injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given minocycline in their drinking water for 14 days following a moderate, mid-thoracic (T12) spinal contusion. An array of depression-like behaviors (social activity, sucrose preference, forced swim, open field activity) were examined prior to injury as well as on days 9-10, 19-20, and 29-30 post-injury. Peripheral cytokine levels were analyzed in serum collected prior to injury and 10 days post-injury. Hierarchical cluster analysis divided subjects into two groups based on behavior: depressed and not-depressed. Depressed subjects displayed lower levels of open field activity and social interaction relative to their not-depressed counterparts. Depressed subjects also showed significantly greater expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines both before and after injury and displayed lower levels of hippocampal neurogenesis than not-depressed subjects. Intriguingly, subjects who later showed depressive behaviors had higher baseline levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, which persisted throughout the duration of the experiment. Minocycline, however, did not affect serum cytokine levels and did not block the development of depression; equal numbers of minocycline versus vehicle-treated subjects appeared in both phenotypic groups. Despite this, these data overall suggest that molecular correlates of inflammation prior to injury could predict the development of depression after a physical stressor.

The Potential Role of Inflammation in Modulating Endogenous Hippocampal Neurogenesis After Spinal Cord Injury

Currently there are approximately 291,000 people suffering from a spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States. SCI is associated with traumatic changes in mobility and neuralgia, as well as many other long-term chronic health complications, including metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, osteoporosis, and elevated inflammatory markers. Due to medical advances, patients with SCI survive much longer than previously. This increase in life expectancy exposes them to novel neurological complications such as memory loss, cognitive decline, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. In fact, these usually age-associated disorders are more prevalent in people living with SCI. A common factor of these disorders is the reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis. Inflammation, which is elevated after SCI, plays a major role in modulating hippocampal neurogenesis. While there is no clear consensus on the mechanism of the decline in hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition after SCI, we will examine in this review how SCI-induced inflammation could modulate hippocampal neurogenesis and provoke age-associated neurological disorders. Thereafter, we will discuss possible therapeutic options which may mitigate the influence of SCI associated complications on hippocampal neurogenesis.

The Effects of P75NTR on Learning Memory Mediated by Hippocampal Apoptosis and Synaptic Plasticity

Neurological diseases bring great mental and physical torture to the patients, and have long-term and sustained negative effects on families and society. The attention to neurological diseases is increasing, and the improvement of the material level is accompanied by an increase in the demand for mental level. The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a low-affinity neurotrophin receptor and involved in diverse and pleiotropic effects in the developmental and adult central nervous system (CNS). Since neurological diseases are usually accompanied by the regression of memory, the pathogenesis of p75NTR also activates and inhibits other signaling pathways, which has a serious impact on the learning and memory of patients. The results of studies shown that p75NTR is associated with LTP/LTD-induced synaptic enhancement and inhibition, suggest that p75NTR may be involved in the progression of synaptic plasticity. And its proapoptotic effect is associated with activation of proBDNF and inhibition of proNGF, and TrkA/p75NTR imbalance leads to pro-survival or proapoptotic phenomena. It can be inferred that p75NTR mediates apoptosis in the hippocampus and amygdale, which may affect learning and memory behavior. This article mainly discusses the relationship between p75NTR and learning memory and associated mechanisms, which may provide some new ideas for the treatment of neurological diseases.

Hippocampal neurodegeneration and rhythms mirror each other during acute spinal cord injury in male rats

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), triggers neurodegenerative changes in the spinal cord, and simultaneously alters oscillatory manifestations of motor cortex. However, these disturbances may not be limited to motor areas and other parts such as hippocampus, which is vital in the neurogenesis and cognitive function, may be affected in the neurogenic and oscillatory manners. Addressing this remarkable complication of SCI, we evaluated the hippocampal neurogenesis and rhythms through acute phase of SCI. In the present study, we used 40 male rats (Sham.W1 = 10, SCI.W1 = 10, Sham.W2 = 10, SCI.W2 = 10), and findings revealed that contusive SCI declines hippocampal rhythms (Delta, Theta, Beta, Gamma) power and max-frequency. Also, there was a significant decrease in the DCX + and BrdU + cells of the dentate gyrus; correlated significantly with rhythms power decline. Considering the TUNEL assay analysis, there were significantly greater apoptotic cells, in the CA1, CA3, and DG regions of injured animals. Furthermore, according to the western blotting analysis, the expression of receptors (NMDA, GABAA, Muscarinic1), which are essential in the neurogenesis and generation of rhythms significantly attenuated following SCI. Our study demonstrated that acute SCI, alters the power and max-frequency of hippocampal rhythms parallel with changes in the hippocampal neurogenesis, apoptosis, and receptors expression.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: therapeutic opportunities and challenges for spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to serious motor and sensory dysfunction of the limbs below the injured segment. SCI not only results in physical and psychological harm to patients but can also cause a huge economic burden on their families and society. As there is no effective treatment method, the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with SCI have become urgent problems to be solved. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted more attention in the treatment of SCI. Although MSC therapy can reduce injured volume and promote axonal regeneration, its application is limited by tumorigenicity, a low survival rate, and immune rejection. Accumulating literature shows that exosomes have great potential in the treatment of SCI. In this review, we summarize the existing MSC-derived exosome studies on SCI and discuss the advantages and challenges of treating SCI based on exosomes derived from MSCs.

Animal Models of Cerebral Changes Secondary to Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are difficult to treat. The first animal SCI model (featuring the dropping of a weight) was established by Allen in 1911, and other animal models have been developed since then. Most animal studies have focused only on the molecular features of SCIs, which remain disputed. Recently, it has become clear that SCI may trigger mental and cognitive disorders, however, and brain changes secondary to SCI are under investigation. No consensus on an optimal animal model for cerebral research has emerged. We discuss the appropriate SCI models for studying secondary brain changes.

Delayed microglial depletion after spinal cord injury reduces chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration in the brain and improves neurological recovery in male mice

Neuropsychological deficits, including impairments in learning and memory, occur after spinal cord injury (SCI). In experimental SCI models, we and others have reported that such changes reflect sustained microglia activation in the brain that is associated with progressive neurodegeneration. In the present study, we examined the effect of pharmacological depletion of microglia on posttraumatic cognition, depressive-like behavior, and brain pathology after SCI in mice.

Methods: Young adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to moderate/severe thoracic spinal cord contusion. Microglial depletion was induced with the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) antagonist PLX5622 administered starting either 3 weeks before injury or one day post-injury and continuing through 6 weeks after SCI. Neuroinflammation in the injured spinal cord and brain was assessed using flow cytometry and NanoString technology. Neurological function was evaluated using a battery of neurobehavioral tests including motor function, cognition, and depression. Lesion volume and neuronal counts were quantified by unbiased stereology.

Results: Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that PLX5622 pre-treatment significantly reduced the number of microglia, as well as infiltrating monocytes and neutrophils, and decreased reactive oxygen species production in these cells from injured spinal cord at 2-days post-injury. Post-injury PLX5622 treatment reduced both CD45^int microglia and CD45^hi myeloid counts at 7-days. Following six weeks of PLX5622 treatment, there were substantial changes in the spinal cord and brain transcriptomes, including those involved in neuroinflammation. These alterations were associated with improved neuronal survival in the brain and neurological recovery.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that pharmacological microglia-deletion reduces neuroinflammation in the injured spinal cord and brain, improving recovery of cognition, depressive-like behavior, and motor function.

Reducing Neuron Apoptosis in the Pontine Micturition Center by Nerve Root Transfer for Restoration of Micturition Function after Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

The rate of neuronal apoptosis increases after spinal cord injury (SCI). Anastomosing the normal nerve roots above the SCI level to the injured sacral nerve roots can enhance the functional recovery of neurons. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of sacral nerve root transfer after SCI on pontine neuronal survival.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A, reconstruction of afferent and efferent nerve pathways of the bladder after SCI; Group B, SCI only; and Group C, control group. We examined pontine neuronal morphology using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining after SCI and nerve transfer. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression changes in the pontine micturition center were quantified by immunohistochemistry. The number of apoptotic neurons was determined by TUNEL staining. We examined pontine neuronal apoptosis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at different time points.

Results

H&E staining demonstrated that the number of neurons had increased in Group A, but more cells in Group B displayed nuclear pyknosis, with the disappearance of the nucleus. Compared with Group B, Group A had significantly higher Bcl-2 expression, significantly lower Bax expression, and a significantly higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio. The number of apoptotic neurons and neuron bodies in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B, as indicated by TUNEL staining and TEM.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that lumbosacral nerve transfer can reduce neuronal apoptosis in the pontine micturition center and enhance functional recovery of neurons. This result further suggests that lumbosacral nerve transfer can be used as a new approach for reconstructing bladder function after spinal cord injury.

Intravenous delivery of microRNA-133b along with Argonaute-2 enhances spinal cord recovery following cervical contusion in mice

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition for which spine decompression and stabilization of injury remains the only therapy available in the clinical setup. However, fibrous scar formation during the healing process significantly impairs full recovery. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to target mRNA(s) and initiating translational repression or mRNA degradation. It has been reported that microRNA-133b (miR133b) is highly expressed in regenerating neurons following a SCI in zebrafish, and lentiviral delivery of miR133b at the time of SCI in mice resulted in improved functional recovery.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether intravenous delivery of miR133b enhances spinal cord recovery when administered 24 hours following a cervical contusion injury in mice.

STUDY DESIGN

This is an experimental animal study of acute SCI, investigating the effect of miR133b on spinal cord recovery by targeting scar lesion formation. The approach involved setting an acute SCI in mice, which was followed 24 hours later by intravenous co-delivery of miR133b and Argonaute 2 (Ago2), a protein involved in miRNA stabilization. Readouts of the impact of this intervention included analysis of RNA and protein expression at the lesion site, in particular with regard to markers of scar tissue formation, and determination of motor function recovery by the grip strength meter task.

METHODS

C57BL6 female mice between 6 and 8 weeks of age were tested. The injury model employed was a unilateral moderate contusion at the cervical fifth level. Twenty-four hours following the injury, the authors co-delivered miR133b, or scrambled miRNA as negative control, along with Ago2 for 3 consecutive days, one dose per day via tail-vein injection. They first investigated the level of miR133b in the spinal cord and in spinal cord lesion after a single dose of injection. Next, they determined the efficacy of miR133b and/or Ago2 delivery in regulating gene and protein expression at the lesion site. Finally, they established the role of miR133b and/or Ago2 in enhancing forelimb gripping recovery as assessed by the grip strength meter task for 8 weeks post-SCI.

RESULTS

Intravenous delivery of miR133b and/or Ago2 targeted the microenvironment at the lesion site and prevented the increased expression of certain extracellular matrix proteins (ECM), in particular collagen type 1 alpha 1 and tenascin N, which are known to have a key role in scar formation. It also reduced microglia and/or macrophage recruitment to the lesion site. Functional recovery in mice treated with miR133b and/or Ago2 started around 2 weeks postinjury and continued to improve over time, whereas mice in the control group displayed significantly poorer recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate therapeutic activity of intravenous miR133b and/or Ago2 treatment, possibly via decreasing ECM protein expression and macrophage recruitment at the lesion site, thereby minimizing detrimental fibrous scar formation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

There is an urgent medical need for better treatments of SCIs. Based on our findings in a preclinical model, the miR133b and/or Ago2 system specifically targets fibrous scar formation, a barrier in neuronal regrowth, by remodeling ECM molecules at the injury site. Prevention of scar formation is critical to improved outcomes of treatment. Of note, delivery of miR133b and/or Ago2 was initiated 24 hours after traumatic impact, thus indicating a fairly long window of opportunity providing more time and flexibility for therapeutic intervention. Intravenous miR133b may become a beneficial therapeutic strategy to treat patients with acute SCI.

Spinal Cord Injury Leads to Hippocampal Glial Alterations and Neural Stem Cell Inactivation

The hippocampus encodes spatial and contextual information involved in memory and learning. The incorporation of new neurons into hippocampal networks increases neuroplasticity and enhances hippocampal-dependent learning performances. Only few studies have described hippocampal abnormalities after spinal cord injury (SCI) although cognitive deficits related to hippocampal function have been reported in rodents and even humans. The aim of this study was to characterize in further detail hippocampal changes in the acute and chronic SCI. Our data suggested that neurogenesis reduction in the acute phase after SCI could be due to enhanced death of amplifying neural progenitors (ANPs). In addition, astrocytes became reactive and microglial cells increased their number in almost all hippocampal regions studied. Glial changes resulted in a non-inflammatory response as the mRNAs of the major pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, IL-18) remained unaltered, but CD200R mRNA levels were downregulated. Long-term after SCI, astrocytes remained reactive but on the other hand, microglial cell density decreased. Also, glial cells induced a neuroinflammatory environment with the upregulation of IL-1β, TNFα and IL-18 mRNA expression and the decrease of CD200R mRNA. Neurogenesis reduction may be ascribed at later time points to inactivation of neural stem cells (NSCs) and inhibition of ANP proliferation. The number of granular cells and CA1 pyramidal neurons decreased only in the chronic phase. The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines at the chronic phase might involve neurogenesis reduction and neurodegeneration of hippocampal neurons. Therefore, SCI led to hippocampal changes that could be implicated in cognitive deficits observed in rodents and humans.

Dementia, Depression, and Associated Brain Inflammatory Mechanisms after Spinal Cord Injury

Evaluation of the chronic effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) has long focused on sensorimotor deficits, neuropathic pain, bladder/bowel dysfunction, loss of sexual function, and emotional distress. Although not well appreciated clinically, SCI can cause cognitive impairment including deficits in learning and memory, executive function, attention, and processing speed; it also commonly leads to depression. Recent large-scale longitudinal population-based studies indicate that patients with isolated SCI (without concurrent brain injury) are at a high risk of dementia associated with substantial cognitive impairments. Yet, little basic research has addressed potential mechanisms for cognitive impairment and depression after injury. In addition to contributing to disability in their own right, these changes can adversely affect rehabilitation and recovery and reduce quality of life. Here, we review clinical and experimental work on the complex and varied responses in the brain following SCI. We also discuss potential mechanisms responsible for these less well-examined, important SCI consequences. In addition, we outline the existing and developing therapeutic options aimed at reducing SCI-induced brain neuroinflammation and post-injury cognitive and emotional impairments.

Juvenile mild traumatic brain injury elicits distinct spatiotemporal astrocyte responses

Mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI) represents ~80% of all emergency room visits and increases the probability of developing long-term cognitive disorders in children. To date, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying post-mTBI cognitive dysfunction are unknown. Astrogliosis has been shown to significantly alter astrocytes' properties following brain injury, potentially leading to significant brain dysfunction. However, such alterations have never been investigated in the context of juvenile mTBI (jmTBI). A closed-head injury model was used to study jmTBI on postnatal-day 17 mice. Astrogliosis was evaluated using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and nestin immunolabeling in somatosensory cortex (SSC), dentate gyrus (DG), amygdala (AMY), and infralimbic area (ILA) of prefrontal cortex in both hemispheres from 1 to 30 days postinjury (dpi). In vivo T2-weighted-imaging (T2WI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed at 7 and 30 dpi to examine tissue level structural alterations. Increased GFAP-labeling was observed up to 30 dpi in the ipsilateral SSC, the initial site of the impact. However, vimentin and nestin expression was not perturbed by jmTBI. The morphology of GFAP positive cells was significantly altered in the SSC, DG, AMY, and ILA up to 7 dpi that some correlated with magnetic resonance imaging changes. T2WI and DTI values were significantly altered at 30 dpi within these brain regions most prominently in regions distant from the impact site. Our data show that jmTBI triggers changes in astrocytic phenotype with a distinct spatiotemporal pattern. We speculate that the presence and time course of astrogliosis may contribute to pathophysiological processes and long-term structural alterations following jmTBI.

Spontaneous functional full recovery from motor and sensory deficits in adult mice after mild spinal cord injury

The extent of spontaneous recovery in patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) has not been thoroughly investigated. It is essentially not known whether SCI animals exhibit full recovery from both motor and sensory deficits as well. Here, we developed an appropriate condition to produce a mild SCI in mice. Mice given a mild contusion SCI showed transient low performances in the Basso Mouse Scale for locomotion (BMS), rotarod and beam walking tests after the SCI, which was followed by complete restoration in a short time. The SCI mice also showed functional full recovery from low sensitivity to light touch using dynamic touch test. Nevertheless, the fully-recovered SCI mice still exhibited significant loss of myelin in the spinal cord. These results suggest a high potential of adaptation of motor and sensory systems in mice and might provide insight into the prognoses of SCI patients.

An Immune-CNS Axis Activates Remote Hippocampal Stem Cells Following Spinal Transection Injury

External stimuli such as injury, learning, or stress influence the production of neurons by neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mammalian brain. These external stimuli directly impact stem cell activity by influencing areas directly connected or in close proximity to the neurogenic niches of the adult brain. However, very little is known on how distant injuries affect NSC activation state. In this study, we demonstrate that a thoracic spinal transection injury activates the distally located hippocampal-NSCs. This activation leads to a transient increase production of neurons that functionally integrate to improve animal's performance in hippocampal-related memory tasks. We further show that interferon-CD95 signaling is required to promote injury-mediated activation of remote NSCs. Thus, we identify an immune-CNS axis responsible for injury-mediated activation of remotely located NSCs.

Evidence for neurogenesis in the medial cortex of the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius

Although lizards are often described as having robust neurogenic abilities, only a handful of the more than 6300 species have been explored. Here, we provide the first evidence of homeostatic neurogenesis in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). We focused our study on the medial cortex, homologue of the mammalian hippocampal formation. Using immunostaining, we identified proliferating pools of neural stem/progenitor cells within the sulcus septomedialis, the pseudostratified ventricular zone adjacent to the medial cortex. Consistent with their identification as radial glia, these cells expressed SOX2, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and Vimentin, and demonstrated a radial morphology. Using a 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine cell tracking strategy, we determined that neuroblast migration from the ventricular zone to the medial cortex takes ~30-days, and that newly generated neuronal cells survived for at least 140-days. We also found that cell proliferation within the medial cortex was not significantly altered following rupture of the tail spinal cord (as a result of the naturally evolved process of caudal autotomy). We conclude that the sulcus septomedialis of the leopard gecko demonstrates all the hallmarks of a neurogenic niche.

Delayed Influence of Spinal Cord Injury on the Amino Acids of NO• Metabolism in Rat Cerebral Cortex Is Attenuated by Thiamine

Severe spinal cord injuries (SCIs) result in chronic neuroinflammation in the brain, associated with the development of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Nitric oxide (NO•) is a gaseous messenger involved in neuronal signaling and inflammation, contributing to nitrosative stress under dysregulated production of reactive nitrogen species. In this work, biochemical changes induced in the cerebral cortex of rats 8 weeks after SCI are assessed by quantification of the levels of amino acids participating in the NO• and glutathione metabolism. The contribution of the injury-induced neurodegeneration is revealed by comparison of the SCI- and laminectomy (LE)-subjected animals. Effects of the operative interventions are assessed by comparison of the operated (LE/SCI) and non-operated animals. Lower ratios of citrulline (Cit) to arginine (Arg) or Cit to ornithine and a more profound decrease in the ratio of lysine to glycine distinguish SCI animals from those after LE. The data suggest decreased NO• production from both Arg and homoarginine in the cortex 8 weeks after SCI. Both LE and SCI groups show a strong decrease in the level of cortex glutathione. The neurotropic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant actions of thiamine (vitamin B1) prompted us to study the thiamine effects on the SCI-induced changes in the NO• and glutathione metabolism. A thiamine injection (400 mg/kg intraperitoneally) within 24 h after SCI abrogates the changes in the cerebral cortex amino acids related to NO•. Thiamine-induced normalization of the brain glutathione levels after LE and SCI may involve increased supply of glutamate for glutathione biosynthesis. Thus, thiamine protects from sequelae of SCI on NO•-related amino acids and glutathione in cerebral cortex.

Spinal cord injury drives chronic brain changes

Only a few studies have considered changes in brain structures other than sensory and motor cortex after spinal cord injury, although cognitive impairments have been reported in these patients. Spinal cord injury results in chronic brain neuroinflammation with consequent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in rodents. Regarding the hippocampus, neurogenesis is reduced and reactive gliosis increased. These long-term abnormalities could explain behavioral impairments exhibited in humans patients suffering from spinal cord trauma.