1
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Wei H, Wu JQ. Glial progenitor heterogeneity and plasticity in the adult spinal cord. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2567-2568. [PMID: 38808984 PMCID: PMC11168497 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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Lu L, Ye J, Yi D, Qi T, Luo T, Wu S, Yang L, Li L, Zhang H, Chen D. Runx2 Suppresses Astrocyte Activation and Astroglial Scar Formation After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04212-6. [PMID: 38789894 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04212-6] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
After spinal cord injury, astrocytes undergo a reactive process and form an astroglial scar, which impedes the regeneration of axons. The role of Runx2 in promoting the transformation of astrocytes in the central nervous system is well-established. However, it remains unclear whether Runx2 also plays a role in the development of astroglial scar, and the precise underlying mechanism has yet to be identified. Recently, our study using cell culture and animal models has demonstrated that Runx2 actually suppresses astrocyte activation and the formation of astroglial scar following injury. The initial results demonstrated an increase in the expression of Runx2 in astrocytes following in vivo injury. Subsequently, the overexpression of Runx2 resulted in the inhibition of astrocyte activation, reduction in the total area of astroglial scar, and restoration of neural function after 14 days of injury. However, these effects were reversed by CADD522. These findings indicate that Runx2 could potentially serve as a therapeutic intervention for spinal cord injury (SCI). Furthermore, our findings suggest that the Nuclear-matrix-targeting signal (NMTS) of Runx2 is associated with its effect. In summary, the study's results propose that targeting Runx2 may be a promising treatment approach for reactive astrocytes and astroglial scar in the recovery of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Lu
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Jiazong Ye
- Department of Ultrasound, Dongtou District People's Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325700, China
| | - Dafa Yi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Tengfei Qi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Tong Luo
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Silei Wu
- The Wenzhou Third Clinical Institute Affiliated To Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Liangliang Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Lei Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Daqing Chen
- Department of Emergency, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
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3
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Xia Y, Ding L, Zhang C, Xu Q, Shi M, Gao T, Zhou FQ, Deng DYB. Inflammatory Factor IL1α Induces Aberrant Astrocyte Proliferation in Spinal Cord Injury Through the Grin2c/Ca 2+/CaMK2b Pathway. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:421-438. [PMID: 37864744 PMCID: PMC11003951 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01128-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating traumas, and the aberrant proliferation of astrocytes usually causes neurological deficits. However, the mechanism underlying astrocyte over-proliferation after SCI is unclear. Grin2c (glutamate ionotropic receptor type 2c) plays an essential role in cell proliferation. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Grin2c and Ca2+ transport functions were inhibited in astrocytes after SCI. Suppression of Grin2c stimulated astrocyte proliferation by inhibiting the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2b (CaMK2b) pathway in vitro. By screening different inflammatory factors, interleukin 1α (IL1α) was further found to inhibit Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b and enhance astrocyte proliferation in an oxidative damage model. Blockade of IL1α using neutralizing antibody resulted in increased Grin2c expression and the inhibition of astrocyte proliferation post-SCI. Overall, this study suggests that IL1α promotes astrocyte proliferation by suppressing the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b pathway after SCI, revealing a novel pathological mechanism of astrocyte proliferation, and may provide potential targets for SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Lu Ding
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Changlin Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Tianshun Gao
- Big Data Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - David Y B Deng
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
- Orthopaedic and Neurological Repair Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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4
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Shan W, Wang J, Cheng R, Xuan Y, Yin Z. Erythropoietin alleviates astrocyte pyroptosis by targeting the miR-325-3p/Gsdmd axis in rat spinal cord injury. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:523-536. [PMID: 37578618 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroinflammation plays an important role in spinal cord injury (SCI), and an increasing number of studies have focused on the role of astrocytes in neuroinflammation. Pyroptosis is an inflammation-related form of programmed cell death, and neuroinflammation induced by astrocytes in the form of pyroptosis has been widely reported in many central nervous system diseases. Recent studies have found that erythropoietin has significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in SCI; however, it has not been reported whether erythropoietin can reduce neuroinflammation by inhibiting neural cell pyroptosis in SCI. METHODS A GEO dataset (GSE153720) was used to analyse the expression of pyroptosis-related genes in sham astrocytes and astrocytes 7 days, 1 month and 3 months after SCI. TargetScan and miRDB databases were used to predict the miRNA that could bind to the 3'UTR of rat Gsdmd. Primary rat spinal astrocytes were used for in vitro experiments, and the modified version of Allen's method was used to establish the rat SCI model. Western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, lactate dehydrogenase release assay and propidium iodide staining were used to detect the pyroptosis phenotype. A dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify that miR-325-3p can bind to the 3'UTR of Gsdmd. RESULTS We found that pyroptosis-related genes mediated by the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome were highly expressed in astrocytes in an SCI animal model by bioinformatic analysis. We also observed that erythropoietin could reduce astrocyte pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we predicted miRNAs that regulate Gsdmd, the pyroptosis executor, and verified that erythropoietin inhibits astrocyte pyroptosis in SCI through the miR-325-3p/Gsdmd axis. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that erythropoietin can inhibit astrocyte pyroptosis through the miR-325-3p/Gsdmd axis. This study is expected to provide a new mechanism for erythropoietin in the treatment of SCI and a more reliable theoretical basis for clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshan Shan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rui Cheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yong Xuan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Department of Orthopaedics, Hefei Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Zongsheng Yin
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Qian J, Jiang M, Ding Z, Gu D, Bai H, Cai M, Yao D. Role of Long Non-coding RNA in Nerve Regeneration. Int J Neurosci 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37937941 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2023.2280446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Nerve injury can be caused by a variety of factors. It often takes a long time to repair a nerve injury and severe nerve injury is even difficult to heal. Therefore, increasing attention has focused on nerve injury and repair. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a newly discovered non-coding RNA with a wide range of biological activities. Numerous studies have shown that a variety of lncRNAs undergo changes in expression after nerve injury, indicating that lncRNAs may be involved in various biological processes of nerve repair and regeneration. Herein, we summarize the biological roles of lncRNAs in neurons, glial cells and other cells during nerve injury and regeneration, which will help lncRNAs to be better applied in nerve injury and regeneration in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Qian
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Maorong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Zihan Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Dandan Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Huiyuan Bai
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Min Cai
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Dengbing Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
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6
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Yang R, Yang B, Liu W, Tan C, Chen H, Wang X. Emerging role of non-coding RNAs in neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and astrocytes. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:173. [PMID: 37481642 PMCID: PMC10363317 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02856-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the initiation and progression of several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, viral encephalitis, and bacterial encephalitis. Microglia and astrocytes are essential in neural development, maintenance of synaptic connections, and homeostasis in a healthy brain. The activation of astrocytes and microglia is a defense mechanism of the brain against damaged tissues and harmful pathogens. However, their activation triggers neuroinflammation, which can exacerbate or induce CNS injury. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that lack coding capabilities but can actively regulate mRNA expression and function through various mechanisms. ncRNAs are highly expressed in astrocytes and microglia and are potential mediators of neuroinflammation. We reviewed the recent research progress on the role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in regulating neuroinflammation in various CNS diseases. Understanding how these ncRNAs affect neuroinflammation will provide important therapeutic insights for preventing and managing CNS dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruicheng Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Bo Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Wuhan Keqian Biological Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wei Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chen Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Wei H, Wu X, Withrow J, Cuevas-Diaz Duran R, Singh S, Chaboub LS, Rakshit J, Mejia J, Rolfe A, Herrera JJ, Horner PJ, Wu JQ. Glial progenitor heterogeneity and key regulators revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing provide insight to regeneration in spinal cord injury. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112486. [PMID: 37149868 PMCID: PMC10511029 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112486] [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] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed the heterogeneous nature of astrocytes; however, how diverse constituents of astrocyte-lineage cells are regulated in adult spinal cord after injury and contribute to regeneration remains elusive. We perform single-cell RNA sequencing of GFAP-expressing cells from sub-chronic spinal cord injury models and identify and compare with the subpopulations in acute-stage data. We find subpopulations with distinct functional enrichment and their identities defined by subpopulation-specific transcription factors and regulons. Immunohistochemistry, RNAscope experiments, and quantification by stereology verify the molecular signature, location, and morphology of potential resident neural progenitors or neural stem cells in the adult spinal cord before and after injury and uncover the populations of the intermediate cells enriched in neuronal genes that could potentially transition into other subpopulations. This study has expanded the knowledge of the heterogeneity and cell state transition of glial progenitors in adult spinal cord before and after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichao Wei
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xizi Wu
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joseph Withrow
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Raquel Cuevas-Diaz Duran
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Nuevo León 64710, Mexico
| | - Simranjit Singh
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lesley S Chaboub
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jyotirmoy Rakshit
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Julio Mejia
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew Rolfe
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Juan J Herrera
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Philip J Horner
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- The Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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8
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Luo J. Dysregulation of polarity proteins in astrocyte reactivity. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 86:101869. [PMID: 36736704 PMCID: PMC10026364 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are highly polarized neuroglial cells. Polarity is the basis for many of the diverse roles that astrocytes play in the normal and injured brain. Astrocytes are generally dormant and non-migratory under normal physiological conditions, where they perform a wide variety of intricate and essential tasks in preserving CNS homeostasis. In response to pathological insults, astrocytes shift from the normal dormant and homeostatic state to a reactive and migratory state through a process referred to as "reactive astrogliosis". Cell polarity proteins play a key role in the initiation and regulation of migration. Recent evidence suggests that cell polarity proteins are dysregulated during astrogliosis and may modulate astrocyte reactivity and alter the course of disease. Therefore, cell polarity proteins may provide novel therapeutic targets for modulating astrocyte reactivity in brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Luo
- Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research, VAPAHCS, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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9
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Kim HN, McCrea MR, Li S. Advances in molecular therapies for targeting pathophysiology in spinal cord injury. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:171-187. [PMID: 37017093 PMCID: PMC10148912 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2194532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects 25,000-50,000 people around the world each year and there is no cure for SCI patients currently. The primary injury damages spinal cord tissues and secondary injury mechanisms, including ischemia, apoptosis, inflammation, and astrogliosis, further exacerbate the lesions to the spinal cord. Recently, researchers have designed various therapeutic approaches for SCI by targeting its major cellular or molecular pathophysiology. AREAS COVERED Some strategies have shown promise in repairing injured spinal cord for functional recoveries, such as administering neuroprotective reagents, targeting specific genes to promote robust axon regeneration of disconnected spinal fiber tracts, targeting epigenetic factors to enhance cell survival and neural repair, and facilitating neuronal relay pathways and neuroplasticity for restoration of function after SCI. This review focuses on the major advances in preclinical molecular therapies for SCI reported in recent years. EXPERT OPINION Recent progress in developing novel and effective repairing strategies for SCI is encouraging, but many challenges remain for future design of effective treatments, including developing highly effective neuroprotectants for early interventions, stimulating robust neuronal regeneration with functional synaptic reconnections among disconnected neurons, maximizing the recovery of lost neural functions with combination strategies, and translating the most promising therapies into human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Neui Kim
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Madeline R. McCrea
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Shuxin Li
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Sun X, Li M, Huang S, Zhang H, Li K. Protective effect of bone morphogenetic protein-7 induced differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rat with acute spinal cord injury. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:68. [PMID: 36849554 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-00994-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The principal aim of present study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) induced differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a rat acute spinal cord injury (SCI) model. BMSCs were isolated from rats, and then divided into a control and a BMP-7 induction groups. The proliferation ability of BMSCs and glial cell markers were determined. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham, SCI, BMSC, and BMP7 + BMSC groups (n = 10). Among these rats, the recovery of hind limb motor function, the pathological related markers, and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were identified. BMSCs differentiated into neuron-like cells after the introduction of exogenous BMP-7. Interestingly, the expression levels of MAP-2 and Nestin increased, whereas the expression level of GFAP decreased after the treatment with exogenous BMP-7. Furthermore, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score reached 19.33 ± 0.58 in the BMP-7 + BMSC group at day 42. Nissl bodies in the model group were reduced compared to the sham group. After 42 days, in both the BMSC and BMP-7 + BMSC groups, the number of Nissl bodies increased. This is especially so for the number of Nissl bodies in the BMP-7 + BMSC group, which was more than that in the BMSC group. The expression of Tuj-1 and MBP in BMP-7 + BMSC group increased, whereas the expression of GFAP decreased. Moreover, the MEP waveform decreased significantly after surgery. Furthermore, the waveform was wider and the amplitude was higher in BMP-7 + BMSC group than that in BMSC group. BMP-7 promotes BMSC proliferation, induces the differentiation of BMSCsinto neuron-like cells, and inhibits the formation of glial scar. BMP-7 plays a confident role in the recovery of SCI rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, No.280, Changhuai Road, Longzihu Distract, Bengbu, 233044, Anhui Province, China
| | - Maoyong Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, No.280, Changhuai Road, Longzihu Distract, Bengbu, 233044, Anhui Province, China
| | - Shiyuan Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, No.280, Changhuai Road, Longzihu Distract, Bengbu, 233044, Anhui Province, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, No.280, Changhuai Road, Longzihu Distract, Bengbu, 233044, Anhui Province, China.
| | - Kuanxin Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, No.280, Changhuai Road, Longzihu Distract, Bengbu, 233044, Anhui Province, China.
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11
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Ju C, Ma Y, Zuo X, Wang X, Song Z, Zhang Z, Zhu Z, Li X, Liang Z, Ding T, Hu X, Wang Z. Photobiomodulation promotes spinal cord injury repair by inhibiting macrophage polarization through lncRNA TUG1-miR-1192/TLR3 axis. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:5. [PMID: 36658478 PMCID: PMC9854040 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00417-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secondary spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes the aggravation of inflammatory reaction and nerve injury, which affects the recovery of motor function. Bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were recruited to the injured area after SCI, and the M1 polarization is the key process for inducing inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis. We previously showed that photobiomodulation (PBM) can inhibit the polarization of M1 phenotype of BMDMs and reduce inflammation, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential target and mechanism of PBM in treating SCI. METHODS Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that long noncoding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (lncRNA TUG1) was a potential target of PBM. The expression and specific mechanism of lncRNA TUG1 were detected by qPCR, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, western blotting, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and luciferase assay. The Basso mouse scale (BMS) and gait analysis were used to evaluate the recovery of motor function in mice. RESULTS Results showed that lncRNA TUG1 may be a potential target of PBM, regulating the polarization of BMDMs, inflammatory response, and the axial growth of DRG. Mechanistically, TUG1 competed with TLR3 for binding to miR-1192 and attenuated the inhibitory effect of miR-1192 on TLR3. This effect protected TLR3 from degradation, enabling the high expression of TLR3, which promoted the activation of downstream NF-κB signal and the release of inflammatory cytokines. In vivo, PBM treatment could reduce the expression of TUG1, TLR3, and inflammatory cytokines and promoted nerve survival and motor function recovery in SCI mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study clarified that the lncRNA TUG1/miR-1192/TLR3 axis is an important pathway for PBM to inhibit M1 macrophage polarization and inflammation, which provides theoretical support for its clinical application in patients with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Ju
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Yangguang Ma
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Xiaoshuang Zuo
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Xuankang Wang
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Zhiwen Song
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Zhijie Zhu
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Xin Li
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Zhuowen Liang
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Tan Ding
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Xueyu Hu
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
| | - Zhe Wang
- grid.233520.50000 0004 1761 4404Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road No. 127, Xi’an, 710032 Shaanxi China
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Ng W, Ng SY. Remodeling of astrocyte secretome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: uncovering novel targets to combat astrocyte-mediated toxicity. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:54. [PMID: 36567359 PMCID: PMC9791755 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset paralytic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Motor neuron degeneration is typically caused by a combination of intrinsic neuronal (cell autonomous) defects as well as extrinsic (non-cell autonomous) factors such as astrocyte-mediated toxicity. Astrocytes are highly plastic cells that react to their microenvironment to mediate relevant responses. In neurodegeneration, astrocytes often turn reactive and in turn secrete a slew of factors to exert pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic effects. Various efforts have been carried out to characterize the diseased astrocyte secretome over the years, revealing that pro-inflammatory chemokines, cytokines and microRNAs are the main players in mediating neuronal death. As metabolomic technologies mature, these studies begin to shed light on neurotoxic metabolites such as secreted lipids. In this focused review, we will discuss changes in the astrocyte secretome during ALS. In particular, we will discuss the components of the reactive astrocyte secretome that contribute to neuronal death in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winanto Ng
- grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- grid.418812.60000 0004 0620 9243Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities, Singapore, 138673 Singapore
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Transplanting neurofibromatosis-1 gene knockout neural stem cells improve functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injury by enhancing the mTORC2 pathway. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:1766-1777. [PMID: 36241865 PMCID: PMC9636387 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00850-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor survival and low efficiency of neuronal differentiation limits the therapeutic effects of transplanted neural stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) is a tumor suppressor gene that restricts the rapid and abnormal growth and differentiation of neural cells. In the present study, lentiviral vectors were used to knock out NF-1, Ricotr (the core member of mTORC2) or NF-1+Ricotr in neural stem cells in vitro, and the NF-1, Ricotr or NF-1+Ricotr knockout neural stem cells were transplanted at the lesion site in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). We first demonstrated that targeted knockout of NF-1 had an antiapoptotic effect and improved neuronal differentiation by enhancing the mTORC2/Rictor pathway of neural stem cells in vitro. Subsequently, transplanting NF-1 knockout neural stem cells into the injured site sufficiently promoted the tissue repair and functional recovery of rats with spinal cord injury by enhancing the survival and neuronal differentiation of grafted neural stem cells. Collectively, these findings reveal a prominent role of NF-1 in neural stem cell biology, which is an invaluable step forward in enhancing the benefit of neural stem cell-mediated regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury and identifies the transplantation of NF-1 knockout neural stem cells as a promising strategy for spinal cord injury.
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Hemati-Gourabi M, Cao T, Romprey MK, Chen M. Capacity of astrocytes to promote axon growth in the injured mammalian central nervous system. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:955598. [PMID: 36203815 PMCID: PMC9530187 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.955598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the regulation of axon growth after injury to the adult central nervous system (CNS) is crucial to improve neural repair. Following acute focal CNS injury, astrocytes are one cellular component of the scar tissue at the primary lesion that is traditionally associated with inhibition of axon regeneration. Advances in genetic models and experimental approaches have broadened knowledge of the capacity of astrocytes to facilitate injury-induced axon growth. This review summarizes findings that support a positive role of astrocytes in axon regeneration and axon sprouting in the mature mammalian CNS, along with potential underlying mechanisms. It is important to recognize that astrocytic functions, including modulation of axon growth, are context-dependent. Evidence suggests that the local injury environment, neuron-intrinsic regenerative potential, and astrocytes’ reactive states determine the astrocytic capacity to support axon growth. An integrated understanding of these factors will optimize therapeutic potential of astrocyte-targeted strategies for neural repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tuoxin Cao
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Megan K. Romprey
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Meifan Chen
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Meifan Chen,
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Wu X, Wei H, Wu JQ. Coding and long non-coding gene expression changes in the CNS traumatic injuries. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:123. [PMID: 35129669 PMCID: PMC8907010 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04092-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are two main central nervous system (CNS) traumas, caused by external physical insults. Both injuries have devastating effects on the quality of life, and there is no effective therapy at present. Notably, gene expression profiling using bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) have revealed significant changes in many coding and non-coding genes, as well as important pathways in SCI and TBI. Particularly, recent studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with lengths greater than 200 nucleotides and without protein-coding potential have tissue- and cell type-specific expression pattern and play critical roles in CNS injury by gain- and loss-of-function approaches. LncRNAs have been shown to regulate protein-coding genes or microRNAs (miRNAs) directly or indirectly, participating in processes including inflammation, glial activation, cell apoptosis, and vasculature events. Therefore, lncRNAs could serve as potential targets for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of SCI and TBI. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in transcriptome studies of SCI and TBI and insights into molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizi Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Haichao Wei
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jia Qian Wu
- The Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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