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Liu Y, Luo Z, Xie Y, Sun Y, Yuan F, Jiang L, Lu H, Hu J. Extracellular vesicles from UTX-knockout endothelial cells boost neural stem cell differentiation in spinal cord injury. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:155. [PMID: 38424563 PMCID: PMC10903014 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01434-4] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular endothelial cells are pivotal in the pathophysiological progression following spinal cord injury (SCI). The UTX (Ubiquitously Transcribed Tetratripeptide Repeat on Chromosome X) serves as a significant regulator of endothelial cell phenotype. The manipulation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) offers a compelling strategy for the amelioration of SCI. METHODS Two mouse models were used to investigate SCI: NSCs lineage-traced mice and mice with conditional UTX knockout (UTX KO) in endothelial cells. To study the effects of UTX KO on neural differentiation, we harvested extracellular vesicles (EVs) from both UTX KO spinal cord microvascular endothelial cells (SCMECs) and negative control SCMECs. These EVs were then employed to modulate the differentiation trajectory of endogenous NSCs in the SCI model. RESULTS In our NSCs lineage-traced mice model of SCI, a marked decrease in neurogenesis was observed post-injury. Notably, NSCs in UTX KO SCMECs mice showed enhanced neuronal differentiation compared to controls. RNA sequencing and western blot analyses revealed an upregulation of L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM), a gene associated with neurogenesis, in UTX KO SCMECs and their secreted EVs. This aligns with the observed promotion of neurogenesis in UTX KO conditions. In vivo administration of L1CAM-rich EVs from UTX KO SCMECs (KO EVs) to the mice significantly enhanced neural differentiation. Similarly, in vitro exposure of NSCs to KO EVs resulted in increased activation of the Akt signaling pathway, further promoting neural differentiation. Conversely, inhibiting Akt phosphorylation or knocking down L1CAM negated the beneficial effects of KO EVs on NSC neuronal differentiation. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our findings substantiate that EVs derived from UTX KO SCMECs can act as facilitators of neural differentiation following SCI. This study not only elucidates a novel mechanism but also opens new horizons for therapeutic interventions in the treatment of SCI. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudong Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zixiang Luo
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Xie
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feifei Yuan
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liyuan Jiang
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Hongbin Lu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jianzhong Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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da Silva MDV, Piva M, Martelossi-Cebinelli G, Stinglin Rosa Ribas M, Hoffmann Salles Bianchini B, K Heintz O, Casagrande R, Verri WA. Stem cells and pain. World J Stem Cells 2023; 15:1035-1062. [PMID: 38179216 PMCID: PMC10762525 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i12.1035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain can be defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience caused by either actual or potential tissue damage or even resemble that unpleasant experience. For years, science has sought to find treatment alternatives, with minimal side effects, to relieve pain. However, the currently available pharmacological options on the market show significant adverse events. Therefore, the search for a safer and highly efficient analgesic treatment has become a priority. Stem cells (SCs) are non-specialized cells with a high capacity for replication, self-renewal, and a wide range of differentiation possibilities. In this review, we provide evidence that the immune and neuromodulatory properties of SCs can be a valuable tool in the search for ideal treatment strategies for different types of pain. With the advantage of multiple administration routes and dosages, therapies based on SCs for pain relief have demonstrated meaningful results with few downsides. Nonetheless, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to the mechanisms and pathways of pain targeted by SCs. Thus, this is an evolving field that merits further investigation towards the development of SC-based analgesic therapies, and this review will approach all of these aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Deroco Veloso da Silva
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Maiara Piva
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Geovana Martelossi-Cebinelli
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Mariana Stinglin Rosa Ribas
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Hoffmann Salles Bianchini
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Olivia K Heintz
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, United States
| | - Rubia Casagrande
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Science, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86038-440, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Waldiceu A Verri
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, Londrina 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil.
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Rosner J, de Andrade DC, Davis KD, Gustin SM, Kramer JLK, Seal RP, Finnerup NB. Central neuropathic pain. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:73. [PMID: 38129427 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Central neuropathic pain arises from a lesion or disease of the central somatosensory nervous system such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis or related neuroinflammatory conditions. The incidence of central neuropathic pain differs based on its underlying cause. Individuals with spinal cord injury are at the highest risk; however, central post-stroke pain is the most prevalent form of central neuropathic pain worldwide. The mechanisms that underlie central neuropathic pain are not fully understood, but the pathophysiology likely involves intricate interactions and maladaptive plasticity within spinal circuits and brain circuits associated with nociception and antinociception coupled with neuronal hyperexcitability. Modulation of neuronal activity, neuron-glia and neuro-immune interactions and targeting pain-related alterations in brain connectivity, represent potential therapeutic approaches. Current evidence-based pharmacological treatments include antidepressants and gabapentinoids as first-line options. Non-pharmacological pain management options include self-management strategies, exercise and neuromodulation. A comprehensive pain history and clinical examination form the foundation of central neuropathic pain classification, identification of potential risk factors and stratification of patients for clinical trials. Advanced neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques hold promise to improve the understanding of mechanisms that underlie central neuropathic pain and as predictive biomarkers of treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rosner
- Danish Pain Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel C de Andrade
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Karen D Davis
- Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- NeuroRecovery Research Hub, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John L K Kramer
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, ICORD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rebecca P Seal
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nanna B Finnerup
- Danish Pain Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Patil N, Korenfeld O, Scalf RN, Lavoie N, Huntemer-Silveira A, Han G, Swenson R, Parr AM. Electrical stimulation affects the differentiation of transplanted regionally specific human spinal neural progenitor cells (sNPCs) after chronic spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:378. [PMID: 38124191 PMCID: PMC10734202 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03597-w] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are currently no effective clinical therapies to ameliorate the loss of function that occurs after spinal cord injury. Electrical stimulation of the rat spinal cord through the rat tail has previously been described by our laboratory. We propose combinatorial treatment with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived spinal neural progenitor cells (sNPCs) along with tail nerve electrical stimulation (TANES). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of TANES on the differentiation of sNPCs with the hypothesis that the addition of TANES would affect incorporation of sNPCs into the injured spinal cord, which is our ultimate goal. METHODS Chronically injured athymic nude rats were allocated to one of three treatment groups: injury only, sNPC only, or sNPC + TANES. Rats were sacrificed at 16 weeks post-transplantation, and tissue was processed and analyzed utilizing standard histological and tissue clearing techniques. Functional testing was performed. All quantitative data were presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. Statistics were conducted using GraphPad Prism. RESULTS We found that sNPCs were multi-potent and retained the ability to differentiate into mainly neurons or oligodendrocytes after this transplantation paradigm. The addition of TANES resulted in more transplanted cells differentiating into oligodendrocytes compared with no TANES treatment, and more myelin was found. TANES not only promoted significantly higher numbers of sNPCs migrating away from the site of injection but also influenced long-distance axonal/dendritic projections especially in the rostral direction. Further, we observed localization of synaptophysin on SC121-positive cells, suggesting integration with host or surrounding neurons, and this finding was enhanced when TANES was applied. Also, rats that were transplanted with sNPCs in combination with TANES resulted in an increase in serotonergic fibers in the lumbar region. This suggests that TANES contributes to integration of sNPCs, as well as activity-dependent oligodendrocyte and myelin remodeling of the chronically injured spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS Together, the data suggest that the added electrical stimulation promoted cellular integration and influenced the fate of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sNPCs transplanted into the injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandadevi Patil
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, 2-214 MTRF, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Olivia Korenfeld
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, 2-214 MTRF, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Rachel N Scalf
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, 2-214 MTRF, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Nicolas Lavoie
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Anne Huntemer-Silveira
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, 2-214 MTRF, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Guebum Han
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1100 Mechanical Engineering Building, 111 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Riley Swenson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, 2-214 MTRF, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ann M Parr
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, MMC 96, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Zheng X, Liu Z, He Z, Xu J, Wang Y, Gong C, Zhang R, Zhang SC, Chen H, Wang W. Preclinical long-term safety of intraspinal transplantation of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells. iScience 2023; 26:108306. [PMID: 38026209 PMCID: PMC10661464 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons have shown promise in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously showed that hPSC-derived dorsal spinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons can alleviate spasticity and promote locomotion in rats with SCI, but their long-term safety remains elusive. Here, we characterized the long-term fate and safety of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in naive rats over one year. All grafted NPCs had undergone differentiation, yielding mainly neurons and astrocytes. Fully mature human neurons grew many axons and formed numerous synapses with rat neural circuits, together with mature human astrocytes that structurally integrated into the rat spinal cord. The sensorimotor function of rats was not impaired by intraspinal transplantation, even when human neurons were activated or inhibited by designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). These findings represent a significant step toward the clinical translation of human spinal neuron transplantation for treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhixian Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ziyu He
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - YaNan Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - ChenZi Gong
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Ruoying Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Su-Chun Zhang
- Waisman Center, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Program in Neuroscience & Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, the School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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Takahashi Y, Kajitani T, Endo T, Nakayashiki A, Inoue T, Niizuma K, Tominaga T. Intravenous Administration of Human Muse Cells Ameliorates Deficits in a Rat Model of Subacute Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14603. [PMID: 37834052 PMCID: PMC10572998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914603] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are newly established pluripotent stem cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential of the systemic administration of Muse cells as an effective treatment for subacute SCI. We intravenously administered the clinical product "CL2020" containing Muse cells to a rat model two weeks after mid-thoracic spinal cord contusion. Eight experimental animals received CL2020, and twelve received the vehicle. Behavioral analyses were conducted over 20 weeks. Histological evaluations were performed. After 20 weeks of observation, diphtheria toxin was administered to three CL2020-treated animals to selectively ablate human cell functions. Hindlimb motor functions significantly improved from 6 to 20 weeks after the administration of CL2020. The cystic cavity was smaller in the CL2020 group. Furthermore, larger numbers of descending 5-HT fibers were preserved in the distal spinal cord. Muse cells in CL2020 were considered to have differentiated into neuronal and neural cells in the injured spinal cord. Neuronal and neural cells were identified in the gray and white matter, respectively. Importantly, these effects were reversed by the selective ablation of human cells by diphtheria toxin. Intravenously administered Muse cells facilitated the therapeutic potential of CL2020 for severe subacute spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiharu Takahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai 981-8558, Japan
| | - Takumi Kajitani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
| | - Toshiki Endo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai 981-8558, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakayashiki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
| | - Tomoo Inoue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Saitama Red Cross Hospital, Saitama 330-8553, Japan;
| | - Kuniyasu Niizuma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Teiji Tominaga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan; (Y.T.); (A.N.)
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Hajisoltani R, Taghizadeh M, Hamblin MR, Ramezani F. Could conditioned medium be used instead of stem cell transplantation to repair spinal cord injury in animal models? Identifying knowledge gaps. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:753-759. [PMID: 37535839 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlad053] [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] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The drawbacks of stem cell (SC) therapies have led to investigations of SC conditioned medium (CM) instead of SC transplantation in the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effectiveness of CM in comparison with cell transplantation in SCI models remain an open and intriguing question. The focus of this review was to survey existing publications addressing this comparison. The review included articles from electronic databases Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science that included comparisons of the effects of CM versus SC transplantation and versus controls on locomotion after SCI. The search yielded 5 studies and 6 experiments. The results indicated that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that treatment with CM and source cells were equally effective (SMD = 0.12; 95% CI = -0.36 to 0.59; p = 0.07). Regarding investigations of separate effects of SCs versus CM, there currently is limited evidence on efficacy in SCI models. This highlights a notable concern affecting this field. Thus, we identified critical knowledge gaps concerning comparisons of the efficacy of therapeutic application of SC and their derived CM on functional recovery following SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razieh Hajisoltani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Taghizadeh
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Fatemeh Ramezani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Son D, Zheng J, Kim IY, Kang PJ, Park K, Priscilla L, Hong W, Yoon BS, Park G, Yoo JE, Song G, Lee JB, You S. Human induced neural stem cells support functional recovery in spinal cord injury models. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1182-1192. [PMID: 37258581 PMCID: PMC10318049 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01003-2] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a clinical condition that leads to permanent and/or progressive disabilities of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Unfortunately, no medical standard of care for SCI exists to reverse the damage. Here, we assessed the effects of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) directly converted from human urine cells (UCs) in SCI rat models. We successfully generated iNSCs from human UCs, commercial fibroblasts, and patient-derived fibroblasts. These iNSCs expressed various neural stem cell markers and differentiated into diverse neuronal and glial cell types. When transplanted into injured spinal cords, UC-derived iNSCs survived, engrafted, and expressed neuronal and glial markers. Large numbers of axons extended from grafts over long distances, leading to connections between host and graft neurons at 8 weeks post-transplantation with significant improvement of locomotor function. This study suggests that iNSCs have biomedical applications for disease modeling and constitute an alternative transplantation strategy as a personalized cell source for neural regeneration in several spinal cord diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryeon Son
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie Zheng
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - In Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Phil Jun Kang
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungmin Park
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Lia Priscilla
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjun Hong
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Sun Yoon
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, STEMLAB, Inc., Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyuman Park
- Institute of Future Medicine, STEMLAB, Inc., Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Eun Yoo
- Institute of Future Medicine, STEMLAB, Inc., Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwonhwa Song
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jang-Bo Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seungkwon You
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Li X, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Xia X, Zheng JC. Neural stem/progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicles: A novel therapy for neurological diseases and beyond. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e214. [PMID: 36776763 PMCID: PMC9905070 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
As bilayer lipid membrane vesicles secreted by neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs), NSC-derived extracellular vesicles (NSC-EVs) have attracted growing attention for their promising potential to serve as novel therapeutic agents in treatment of neurological diseases due to their unique physicochemical characteristics and biological functions. NSC-EVs exhibit advantages such as stable physical and chemical properties, low immunogenicity, and high penetration capacity to cross blood-brain barrier to avoid predicaments of the clinical applications of NSCs that include autoimmune responses, ethical/religious concerns, and the problematic logistics of acquiring fetal tissues. More importantly, NSC-EVs inherit excellent neuroprotective and neuroregenerative potential and immunomodulatory capabilities from parent cells, and display outstanding therapeutic effects on mitigating behavioral alterations and pathological phenotypes of patients or animals with neurological diseases. In this review, we first comprehensively summarize the progress in functional research and application of NSC-EVs in different neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, acute neurological diseases, dementia/cognitive dysfunction, and peripheral diseases. Next, we provide our thoughts on current limitations/concerns as well as tremendous potential of NSC-EVs in clinical applications. Last, we discuss future directions of further investigations on NSC-EVs and their probable applications in both basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Li
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative TherapyTongji Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yingbo Zhu
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative TherapyTongji Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yi Wang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative TherapyYangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital, Tongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaohuan Xia
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative TherapyTongji Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain‐Like IntelligenceShanghai Fourth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Tongji UniversityMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
| | - Jialin C. Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative TherapyTongji Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain‐Like IntelligenceShanghai Fourth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina,Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Tongji UniversityMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
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10
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Reshamwala R, Shah M. Regenerative Approaches in the Nervous System. Regen Med 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-6008-6_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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11
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Wu Y, Tang Z, Zhang J, Wang Y, Liu S. Restoration of spinal cord injury: From endogenous repairing process to cellular therapy. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1077441. [PMID: 36523818 PMCID: PMC9744968 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1077441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts neurological pathways and impacts sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve function. There is no effective treatment for SCI currently. Numerous endogenous cells, including astrocytes, macrophages/microglia, and oligodendrocyte, are involved in the histological healing process following SCI. By interfering with cells during the SCI repair process, some advancements in the therapy of SCI have been realized. Nevertheless, the endogenous cell types engaged in SCI repair and the current difficulties these cells confront in the therapy of SCI are poorly defined, and the mechanisms underlying them are little understood. In order to better understand SCI and create new therapeutic strategies and enhance the clinical translation of SCI repair, we have comprehensively listed the endogenous cells involved in SCI repair and summarized the six most common mechanisms involved in SCI repair, including limiting the inflammatory response, protecting the spared spinal cord, enhancing myelination, facilitating neovascularization, producing neurotrophic factors, and differentiating into neural/colloidal cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shengwen Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Stem Cell Strategies in Promoting Neuronal Regeneration after Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112996. [PMID: 36361786 PMCID: PMC9657320 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with a significant medical and socioeconomic impact. To date, no effective treatment is available that can enable neuronal regeneration and recovery of function at the damaged level. This is thought to be due to scar formation, axonal degeneration and a strong inflammatory response inducing a loss of neurons followed by a cascade of events that leads to further spinal cord damage. Many experimental studies demonstrate the therapeutic effect of stem cells in SCI due to their ability to differentiate into neuronal cells and release neurotrophic factors. Therefore, it appears to be a valid strategy to use in the field of regenerative medicine. This review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of the current research status, challenges, and future directions for stem cell therapy in SCI models, providing an overview of this constantly evolving and promising field.
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Giraldo E, Bonilla P, Mellado M, Garcia-Manau P, Rodo C, Alastrue A, Lopez E, Moratonas EC, Pellise F, Đorđević S, Vicent MJ, Moreno Manzano V. Transplantation of Human-Fetal-Spinal-Cord-Derived NPCs Primed with a Polyglutamate-Conjugated Rho/Rock Inhibitor in Acute Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203304. [PMID: 36291170 PMCID: PMC9600863 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural precursor cell (NPC) transplantation represents a promising therapy for treating spinal cord injuries (SCIs); however, despite successful results obtained in preclinical models, the clinical translation of this approach remains challenging due, in part, to the lack of consensus on an optimal cell source for human neuronal cells. Depending on the cell source, additional limitations to NPC-based therapies include high tumorigenic potential, alongside poor graft survival and engraftment into host spinal tissue. We previously demonstrated that NPCs derived from rat fetal spinal cords primed with a polyglutamate (PGA)-conjugated form of the Rho/Rock inhibitor fasudil (PGA-SS-FAS) displayed enhanced neuronal differentiation and graft survival when compared to non-primed NPCs. We now conducted a similar study of human-fetal-spinal-cord-derived NPCs (hfNPCs) from legal gestational interruptions at the late gestational stage, at 19-21.6 weeks. In vitro, expanded hfNPCs retained neural features, multipotency, and self-renewal, which supported the development of a cell banking strategy. Before transplantation, we established a simple procedure to prime hfNPCs by overnight incubation with PGA-SS-FAS (at 50 μM FAS equiv.), which improved neuronal differentiation and overcame neurite-like retraction after lysophosphatidic-acid-induced Rho/Rock activation. The transplantation of primed hfNPCs into immune-deficient mice (NU(NCr)-Foxn1nu) immediately after the eighth thoracic segment compression prompted enhanced migration of grafted cells from the dorsal to the ventral spinal cord, increased preservation of GABAergic inhibitory Lbx1-expressing and glutamatergic excitatory Tlx3-expressing somatosensory interneurons, and elevated the numbers of preserved, c-Fos-expressing, activated neurons surrounding the injury epicenter, all in a low percentage. Overall, the priming procedure using PGA-SS-FAS could represent an alternative methodology to improve the capabilities of the hfNPC lines for a translational approach for acute SCI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Giraldo
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Biotechnology. Universitat Politècnica de València, E-46022 Valencia, Spain
- UPV-CIPF Joint Research Unit Disease Mechanisms and Nanomedicine, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Bonilla
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Mara Mellado
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Garcia-Manau
- Maternal-Foetal Medicine Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlota Rodo
- Maternal-Foetal Medicine Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Alastrue
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Eric Lopez
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Ferran Pellise
- Spine Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Snežana Đorđević
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - María J. Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Victoria Moreno Manzano
- Neuronal and Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, E-46012 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
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14
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Cheng T, Xu Z, Ma X. The role of astrocytes in neuropathic pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1007889. [PMID: 36204142 PMCID: PMC9530148 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1007889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain, whose symptoms are characterized by spontaneous and irritation-induced painful sensations, is a condition that poses a global burden. Numerous neurotransmitters and other chemicals play a role in the emergence and maintenance of neuropathic pain, which is strongly correlated with common clinical challenges, such as chronic pain and depression. However, the mechanism underlying its occurrence and development has not yet been fully elucidated, thus rendering the use of traditional painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and opioids, relatively ineffective in its treatment. Astrocytes, which are abundant and occupy the largest volume in the central nervous system, contribute to physiological and pathological situations. In recent years, an increasing number of researchers have claimed that astrocytes contribute indispensably to the occurrence and progression of neuropathic pain. The activation of reactive astrocytes involves a variety of signal transduction mechanisms and molecules. Signal molecules in cells, including intracellular kinases, channels, receptors, and transcription factors, tend to play a role in regulating post-injury pain once they exhibit pathological changes. In addition, astrocytes regulate neuropathic pain by releasing a series of mediators of different molecular weights, actively participating in the regulation of neurons and synapses, which are associated with the onset and general maintenance of neuropathic pain. This review summarizes the progress made in elucidating the mechanism underlying the involvement of astrocytes in neuropathic pain regulation.
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15
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Cell-based and stem-cell-based treatments for spinal cord injury: evidence from clinical trials. Lancet Neurol 2022; 21:659-670. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(21)00464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
This review provides a concise outline of the advances made in the care of patients and to the quality of life after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) over the last century. Despite these improvements reversal of the neurological injury is not yet possible. Instead, current treatment is limited to providing symptomatic relief, avoiding secondary insults and preventing additional sequelae. However, with an ever-advancing technology and deeper understanding of the damaged spinal cord, this appears increasingly conceivable. A brief synopsis of the most prominent challenges facing both clinicians and research scientists in developing functional treatments for a progressively complex injury are presented. Moreover, the multiple mechanisms by which damage propagates many months after the original injury requires a multifaceted approach to ameliorate the human spinal cord. We discuss potential methods to protect the spinal cord from damage, and to manipulate the inherent inhibition of the spinal cord to regeneration and repair. Although acute and chronic SCI share common final pathways resulting in cell death and neurological deficits, the underlying putative mechanisms of chronic SCI and the treatments are not covered in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Stokes
- Spinal Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
| | - Martin Drozda
- Spinal Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
| | - Christopher Lee
- Spinal Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
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Damianakis EI, Benetos IS, Evangelopoulos DS, Kotroni A, Vlamis J, Pneumaticos SG. Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: A Review of Recent Clinical Trials. Cureus 2022; 14:e24575. [PMID: 35664388 PMCID: PMC9148387 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Laycock C, Kieser D, Fitz-Gerald C, Soltani S, Frampton C. A systematic review of large animal and human studies of stem cell therapeutics for acute adult traumatic spinal cord injury. JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDICS, TRAUMA AND REHABILITATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/22104917221087401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a devastating condition and the search for a cure remains one of the most tenacious healthcare challenges to date. Current therapies are limited in their efficacy to restore full neurological function – resulting in lifelong disability and loss of autonomy. Whilst there remains a necessity to refine therapeutic protocols, stem cell (SC) studies have shown promise in the mending and re-establishment of the spinal cord neuroanatomy. Objectives: We conducted a systematic review of functional outcomes in stem cell therapeutics over the last three decades in large animals and humans. Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane and SCOPUS databases were searched for potentially pertinent articles from 1990 to 2020. Studies published in English were included if the stem cells were directly injected into the intraspinal, epidural or intrathecal compartments within two weeks of a traumatic mechanism of injury, including acute intervertebral disc prolapse. The participants were either large animals – defined as canine, porcine or non-human primate in-vivo models – or human patients. Results: Nine studies were included in this review. Statistically significant improvements in motor function and deep pain perception were seen at 8 weeks to 6 months post-SC injection compared to controls. Limitations: Functional outcomes are variably measured across studies. Almost all studies used experimentally induced trauma, which may not accurately represent the complexity of human spinal cord injury. Due to the exclusion criteria, there were no non-human primate studies included, yet these animal models are considered a closer anatomical match to humans than other large mammals. No human studies were included. Conclusions and Implications: Autologous and allogeneic stem cells have been trialled for the reconstitution of damaged and lost cells, remyelination of axons and remodelling of the pathophysiological microenvironment within the injured spinal cord, with some promising outcome data. This may translate to more successful future Phase I/II human clinical trials into the use of stem cells after TSCI in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Laycock
- University of Oxford Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - David Kieser
- Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Connor Fitz-Gerald
- Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sherry Soltani
- University of Oxford Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris Frampton
- Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand
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19
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Prasse T, Hofstetter CP. Editorial. Unleashing embryonic stem cells for treatment of human spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2022; 37:317-319. [PMID: 35364572 DOI: 10.3171/2022.1.spine211573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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20
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Havelikova K, Smejkalova B, Jendelova P. Neurogenesis as a Tool for Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073728. [PMID: 35409088 PMCID: PMC8998995 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a devastating medical condition with no effective treatment. One approach to SCI treatment may be provided by stem cells (SCs). Studies have mainly focused on the transplantation of exogenous SCs, but the induction of endogenous SCs has also been considered as an alternative. While the differentiation potential of neural stem cells in the brain neurogenic regions has been known for decades, there are ongoing debates regarding the multipotent differentiation potential of the ependymal cells of the central canal in the spinal cord (SCECs). Following spinal cord insult, SCECs start to proliferate and differentiate mostly into astrocytes and partly into oligodendrocytes, but not into neurons. However, there are several approaches concerning how to increase neurogenesis in the injured spinal cord, which are discussed in this review. The potential treatment approaches include drug administration, the reduction of neuroinflammation, neuromodulation with physical factors and in vivo reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Havelikova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Smejkalova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Jendelova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (K.H.); (B.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-24-106-2828
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21
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Mutepfa AR, Hardy JG, Adams CF. Electroactive Scaffolds to Improve Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:693438. [PMID: 35274106 PMCID: PMC8902299 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.693438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition caused by damage to the spinal cord through trauma or disease, often with permanent debilitating effects. Globally, the prevalence of SCI is estimated between 40 to 80 cases per million people per year. Patients with SCI can experience devastating health and socioeconomic consequences from paralysis, which is a loss of motor, sensory and autonomic nerve function below the level of the injury that often accompanies SCI. SCI carries a high mortality and increased risk of premature death due to secondary complications. The health, social and economic consequences of SCI are significant, and therefore elucidation of the complex molecular processes that occur in SCI and development of novel effective treatments is critical. Despite advances in medicine for the SCI patient such as surgery and anaesthesiology, imaging, rehabilitation and drug discovery, there have been no definitive findings toward complete functional neurologic recovery. However, the advent of neural stem cell therapy and the engineering of functionalized biomaterials to facilitate cell transplantation and promote regeneration of damaged spinal cord tissue presents a potential avenue to advance SCI research. This review will explore this emerging field and identify new lines of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthea R. Mutepfa
- Neural Tissue Engineering Keele, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
| | - John G. Hardy
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- Materials Science Institute, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: John G. Hardy
| | - Christopher F. Adams
- Neural Tissue Engineering Keele, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
- Christopher F. Adams
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22
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Azari H. Isolation and Enrichment of Defined Neural Cell Populations from Heterogeneous Neural Stem Cell Progeny. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2389:111-123. [PMID: 34558007 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1783-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The renewable source of neural stem cells (NSCs) with multi-lineage differentiation capability toward neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes represents an ideal supply for cell therapy of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In spite of this, the clinical use of NSCs is hampered by heterogeneity, poor neuronal cell yield, predominant astrocytic differentiation of NSC progeny, and possible uncontrolled proliferation and tumor formation upon transplantation. The ability to generate highly enriched and defined neural cell populations from the renewable source of NSCs might overcome many of these impediments and pave the way toward their successful clinical applications.Here, we describe a simple method for NSC differentiation and subsequent purification of neuronal progenitor cells, taking advantage of size and granularity differences between neuronal cells and other NSC progeny. This highly enriched neuronal cell population provides an invaluable source of cells for both in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Azari
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, the School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- Wei Wang, Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. Tel: +86-27-83663657, E-mail:
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Abstract
Traumatic injury of the central nervous system (CNS) is a worldwide health problem affecting millions of people. Trauma of the CNS, that is, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), lead to massive and progressive cell loss and axonal degeneration, usually with very limited regeneration. At present, there are no treatments to protect injured CNS tissue or to replace the lost tissue. Stem cells are a cell type that by definition can self-renew and give rise to multiple cell lineages. In recent years, therapies using stem and progenitor cells have shown promising effects in experimental CNS trauma, particularly in the acute-subacute stage, but also in chronic injuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms by which transplanted cells achieve the structural and/or functional improvements are often not clear. Stem cell therapies for CNS trauma can be categorized into 2 main concepts, transplantation of exogenous neural stem cells and neural progenitor cells and recruitment of endogenous stem and progenitor cells. In this review, focusing on the advances during the last decade, we will discuss the major cell therapies, the pros and cons of these 2 concepts for TBI and SCI, and the treatment strategies we believe will be successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Sundström
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Corresponding author: Erik Sundström, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), BioClinicum J9:20, Karolinska University Hospital, S17164 Solna, Sweden.
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Sirkkunan D, Pingguan-Murphy B, Muhamad F. Directing Axonal Growth: A Review on the Fabrication of Fibrous Scaffolds That Promotes the Orientation of Axons. Gels 2021; 8:gels8010025. [PMID: 35049560 PMCID: PMC8775123 DOI: 10.3390/gels8010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissues are commonly defined as groups of cells that have similar structure and uniformly perform a specialized function. A lesser-known fact is that the placement of these cells within these tissues plays an important role in executing its functions, especially for neuronal cells. Hence, the design of a functional neural scaffold has to mirror these cell organizations, which are brought about by the configuration of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) structural proteins. In this review, we will briefly discuss the various characteristics considered when making neural scaffolds. We will then focus on the cellular orientation and axonal alignment of neural cells within their ECM and elaborate on the mechanisms involved in this process. A better understanding of these mechanisms could shed more light onto the rationale of fabricating the scaffolds for this specific functionality. Finally, we will discuss the scaffolds used in neural tissue engineering (NTE) and the methods used to fabricate these well-defined constructs.
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Long-Term Effects of Neural Precursor Cell Transplantation on Secondary Injury Processes and Functional Recovery after Severe Cervical Contusion-Compression Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222313106. [PMID: 34884911 PMCID: PMC8658203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a devastating event without adequate treatment options despite decades of research. In this context, the usefulness of common preclinical SCI models has been criticized. We, therefore, aimed to use a clinically relevant animal model of severe cervical SCI to assess the long-term effects of neural precursor cell (NPC) transplantation on secondary injury processes and functional recovery. To this end, we performed a clip contusion-compression injury at the C6 level in 40 female Wistar rats and a sham surgery in 10 female Wistar rats. NPCs, isolated from the subventricular zone of green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenic rat embryos, were transplanted ten days after the injury. Functional recovery was assessed weekly, and FluoroGold (FG) retrograde fiber-labeling, as well as manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI), were performed prior to the sacrifice of the animals eight weeks after SCI. After cryosectioning of the spinal cords, immunofluorescence staining was conducted. Results were compared between the treatment groups (NPC, Vehicle, Sham) and statistically analyzed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Despite the severity of the injury, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality during the experiment, long-term survival of the engrafted NPCs with a predominant differentiation into oligodendrocytes could be observed after eight weeks. While myelination of the injured spinal cord was not significantly improved, NPC treated animals showed a significant increase of intact perilesional motor neurons and preserved spinal tracts compared to untreated Vehicle animals. These findings were associated with enhanced preservation of intact spinal cord tissue. However, reactive astrogliosis and inflammation where not significantly reduced by the NPC-treatment. While differences in the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score and the Gridwalk test remained insignificant, animals in the NPC group performed significantly better in the more objective CatWalk XT gait analysis, suggesting some beneficial effects of the engrafted NPCs on the functional recovery after severe cervical SCI.
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Repetitive Trans Spinal Magnetic Stimulation Improves Functional Recovery and Tissue Repair in Contusive and Penetrating Spinal Cord Injury Models in Rats. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121827. [PMID: 34944643 PMCID: PMC8698720 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an incurable condition in which the brain is disconnected partially or completely from the periphery. Mainly, SCIs are traumatic and are due to traffic, domestic or sport accidents. To date, SCIs are incurable and, most of the time, leave the patients with a permanent loss of sensitive and motor functions. Therefore, for several decades, researchers have tried to develop treatments to cure SCI. Among them, recently, our lab has demonstrated that, in mice, repetitive trans-spinal magnetic stimulation (rTSMS) can, after SCI, modulate the lesion scar and can induce functional locomotor recovery non-invasively. These results are promising; however, before we can translate them to humans, it is important to reproduce them in a more clinically relevant model. Indeed, SCIs do not lead to the same cellular events in mice and humans. In particular, SCIs in humans induce the formation of cystic cavities. That is why we propose here to validate the effects of rTSMS in a rat animal model in which SCI leads to the formation of cystic cavities after penetrating and contusive SCI. To do so, several techniques, including immunohistochemical, behavioral and MRI, were performed. Our results demonstrate that rTSMS, in both SCI models, modulates the lesion scar by decreasing the formation of cystic cavities and by improving axonal survival. Moreover, rTSMS, in both models, enhances functional locomotor recovery. Altogether, our study describes that rTSMS exerts positive effects after SCI in rats. This study is a further step towards the use of this treatment in humans.
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Ma YH, Shi HJ, Wei QS, Deng QW, Sun JH, Liu Z, Lai BQ, Li G, Ding Y, Niu WT, Zeng YS, Zeng X. Developing a mechanically matched decellularized spinal cord scaffold for the in situ matrix-based neural repair of spinal cord injury. Biomaterials 2021; 279:121192. [PMID: 34700225 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tissue engineering is a promising strategy to repair spinal cord injury (SCI). However, a bioscaffold with mechanical properties that match those of the pathological spinal cord tissue and a pro-regenerative matrix that allows robust neurogenesis for overcoming post-SCI scar formation has yet to be developed. Here, we report that a mechanically enhanced decellularized spinal cord (DSC) scaffold with a thin poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) outer shell may fulfill the requirements for effective in situ neuroengineering after SCI. Using chemical extraction and electrospinning methods, we successfully constructed PLGA thin shell-ensheathed DSC scaffolds (PLGA-DSC scaffolds) in a way that removed major inhibitory components while preserving the permissive matrix. The DSCs exhibited good cytocompatibility with neural stem cells (NSCs) and significantly enhanced their differentiation toward neurons in vitro. Due to the mechanical reinforcement, the implanted PLGA-DSC scaffolds showed markedly increased resilience to infiltration by myofibroblasts and the deposition of dense collagen matrix, thereby creating a neurogenic niche favorable for the targeted migration, residence and neuronal differentiation of endogenous NSCs after SCI. Furthermore, PLGA-DSC presented a mild immunogenic property but prominent ability to polarize macrophages from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype, leading to significant tissue regeneration and functional restoration after SCI. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the mechanically matched PLGA-DSC scaffolds show promise for effective tissue repair after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Huan Ma
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiocerebral Diseases, Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, 524023, China; Guangzhou Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510180, PR China
| | - Hui-Juan Shi
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Qing-Shuai Wei
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Qing-Wen Deng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Jia-Hui Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiocerebral Diseases, Institute of Neurology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, 524023, China
| | - Bi-Qin Lai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Ge Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Ying Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Wan-Ting Niu
- Department of Orthopedics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yuan-Shan Zeng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510120, China
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China; Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510120, China.
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Yuan T, Shao Y, Zhou X, Liu Q, Zhu Z, Zhou B, Dong Y, Stephanopoulos N, Gui S, Yan H, Liu D. Highly Permeable DNA Supramolecular Hydrogel Promotes Neurogenesis and Functional Recovery after Completely Transected Spinal Cord Injury. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2102428. [PMID: 34296471 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202102428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration after severe spinal cord injury cannot occur naturally in mammals. Transplanting stem cells to the injury site is a highly promising method, but it faces many challenges because it relies heavily on the microenvironment provided by both the lesion site and delivery material. Although mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of delivery materials have been extensively explored, their permeability has rarely been recognized. Here, a DNA hydrogel is designed with extremely high permeability to repair a 2 mm spinal cord gap in Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats recover basic hindlimb function with detectable motor-evoked potentials, and a renascent neural network is formed via the proliferation and differentiation of both implanted and endogenous stem cells. The signal at the lesion area is conveyed by, on average, 15 newly formed synapses. This hydrogel system offers great potential in clinical trials. Further, it should be easily adaptable to other tissue regeneration applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taoyang Yuan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100071, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Yu Shao
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Qian Liu
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Zhichao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Bini Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuanchen Dong
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Nicholas Stephanopoulos
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Songbai Gui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Hao Yan
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Oraee-Yazdani S, Akhlaghpasand M, Golmohammadi M, Hafizi M, Zomorrod MS, Kabir NM, Oraee-Yazdani M, Ashrafi F, Zali A, Soleimani M. Combining cell therapy with human autologous Schwann cell and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell in patients with subacute complete spinal cord injury: safety considerations and possible outcomes. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:445. [PMID: 34372939 PMCID: PMC8351425 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02515-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular transplantations have promising effects on treating spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs), which have safety alongside their complementary characteristics, are suggested to be the two of the best candidates in SCI treatment. In this study, we assessed the safety and possible outcomes of intrathecal co-transplantation of autologous bone marrow MSC and SC in patients with subacute traumatic complete SCI. Methods Eleven patients with complete SCI (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS); grade A) were enrolled in this study during the subacute period of injury. The patients received an intrathecal autologous combination of MSC and SC and were followed up for 12 months. We assessed the neurological changes by the American Spinal Injury Association’s (ASIA) sensory-motor scale, functional recovery by spinal cord independence measure (SCIM-III), and subjective changes along with adverse events (AE) with our checklist. Furthermore, electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction velocity (NCV), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and urodynamic study (UDS) were conducted for all the patients at the baseline, 6 months, and 1 year after the intervention. Results Light touch AIS score alterations were approximately the same as the pinprick changes (11.6 ± 13.1 and 12 ± 13, respectively) in 50% of the cervical and 63% of the lumbar-thoracic patients, and both were more than the motor score alterations (9.5 ± 3.3 in 75% of the cervical and 14% of the lumbar-thoracic patients). SCIM III total scores (21.2 ± 13.3) and all its sub-scores (“respiration and sphincter management” (15 ± 9.9), “mobility” (9.5 ± 13.3), and “self-care” (6 ± 1.4)) had statistically significant changes after cell injection. Our findings support that the most remarkable positive, subjective improvements were in trunk movement, equilibrium in standing/sitting position, the sensation of the bladder and rectal filling, and the ability of voluntary voiding. Our safety evaluation revealed no systemic complications, and radiological images showed no neoplastic overgrowth, syringomyelia, or pseudo-meningocele. Conclusion The present study showed that autologous SC and bone marrow-derived MSC transplantation at the subacute stage of SCI could reveal statistically significant improvement in sensory and neurological functions among the patients. It appears that using this combination of cells is safe and effective for clinical application to spinal cord regeneration during the subacute period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Oraee-Yazdani
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran.
| | - Mohammadhosein Akhlaghpasand
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran
| | - Maryam Golmohammadi
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran
| | - Maryam Hafizi
- Stem Cell Technology Research Centre, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Research and Development, Sodour Ahrar Shargh Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Soufi Zomorrod
- Applied cell Sciences Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Mohseni Kabir
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Oraee-Yazdani
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran
| | - Farzad Ashrafi
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran
| | - Alireza Zali
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1988873554, Iran.
| | - Masoud Soleimani
- Department of Hematology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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31
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Richard SA, Sackey M. Elucidating the Pivotal Neuroimmunomodulation of Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury Repair. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:9230866. [PMID: 34341666 PMCID: PMC8325586 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9230866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a distressing incident with abrupt onset of the motor as well as sensory dysfunction, and most often, the injury occurs as result of high-energy or velocity accidents as well as contact sports and falls in the elderly. The key challenges associated with nerve repair are the lack of self-repair as well as neurotrophic factors and primary and secondary neuronal apoptosis, as well as factors that prevent the regeneration of axons locally. Neurons that survive the initial traumatic damage may be lost due to pathogenic activities like neuroinflammation and apoptosis. Implanted stem cells are capable of differentiating into neural cells that replace injured cells as well as offer local neurotrophic factors that aid neuroprotection, immunomodulation, axonal sprouting, axonal regeneration, and remyelination. At the microenvironment of SCI, stem cells are capable of producing growth factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor which triggers neuronal survival as well as axonal regrowth. Although stem cells have proven to be of therapeutic value in SCI, the major disadvantage of some of the cell types is the risk for tumorigenicity due to the contamination of undifferentiated cells prior to transplantation. Local administration of stem cells via either direct cellular injection into the spinal cord parenchyma or intrathecal administration into the subarachnoid space is currently the best transplantation modality for stem cells during SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seidu A. Richard
- Department of Medicine, Princefield University, P.O. Box MA128, Ho, Ghana
| | - Marian Sackey
- Department of Pharmacy, Ho Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box MA-374, Ho, Ghana
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Xue W, Zhang H, Fan Y, Xiao Z, Zhao Y, Liu W, Xu B, Yin Y, Chen B, Li J, Cui Y, Shi Y, Dai J. Upregulation of Apol8 by Epothilone D facilitates the neuronal relay of transplanted NSCs in spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:300. [PMID: 34039405 PMCID: PMC8157417 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02375-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microtubule-stabilizing agents have been demonstrated to modulate axonal sprouting during neuronal disease. One such agent, Epothilone D, has been used to treat spinal cord injury (SCI) by promoting axonal sprouting at the lesion site after SCI. However, the role of Epothilone D in the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in SCI repair is unknown. In the present study, we mainly explored the effects and mechanisms of Epothilone D on the neuronal differentiation of NSCs and revealed a potential new SCI treatment. METHODS In vitro differentiation assays, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the effects of Epothilone D on NSC differentiation. Retrograde tracing using a pseudotyped rabies virus was then used to detect neuronal circuit construction. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was valuable for exploring the target gene involved in the neuronal differentiation stimulated by Epothilone D. In addition, lentivirus-induced overexpression and RNA interference technology were applied to demonstrate the function of the target gene. Last, an Apol8-NSC-linear ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) graft was prepared to treat a mouse model of SCI, and functional and electrophysiological evaluations were performed. RESULTS We first revealed that Epothilone D promoted the neuronal differentiation of cultured NSCs and facilitated neuronal relay formation in the injured site after SCI. Furthermore, the RNA-Seq results demonstrated that Apol8 was upregulated during Epothilone D-induced neuronal relay formation. Lentivirus-mediated Apol8 overexpression in NSCs (Apol8-NSCs) promoted NSC differentiation toward neurons, and an Apol8 interference assay showed that Apol8 had a role in promoting neuronal differentiation under the induction of Epothilone D. Last, Apol8-NSC transplantation with LOCS promoted the neuronal differentiation of transplanted NSCs in the lesion site as well as synapse formation, thus improving the motor function of mice with complete spinal cord transection. CONCLUSIONS Epothilone D can promote the neuronal differentiation of NSCs by upregulating Apol8, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Haipeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yongheng Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhifeng Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yannan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Weiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Bai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanyun Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Bing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jiayin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yi Cui
- Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Ya Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jianwu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Rosner J, Lütolf R, Hostettler P, Villiger M, Clijsen R, Hohenauer E, Barbero M, Curt A, Hubli M. Assessment of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury using quantitative pain drawings. Spinal Cord 2021; 59:529-537. [PMID: 33594250 PMCID: PMC8110478 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-021-00616-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Clinimetric cross-sectional cohort study in adults with paraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain (NP). OBJECTIVE To assess the reliability of standardized quantitative pain drawings in patients with NP following SCI. SETTING Hospital-based research facility at the Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. METHODS Twenty individuals with chronic thoracic spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain were recruited from a national and local SCI registry. A thorough clinical examination and pain assessments were performed. Pain drawings were acquired at subsequent timepoints, 13 days (IQR 7.8-14.8) apart, in order to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS The average extent [%] and intensity [NRS 0-10] of spontaneous NP were 11.3% (IQR 4.9-35.8) and 5 (IQR 3-7), respectively. Pain extent showed excellent inter-session reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.96). Sensory loss quantified by light touch and pinprick sensation was associated with larger pain extent (rpinprick = -0.47, p = 0.04; rlight touch = -0.64, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Assessing pain extent using quantitative pain drawings is readily feasible and reliable in human SCI. Relating information of sensory deficits to the presence of pain may provide distinct insights into the interaction of sensory deafferentation and the development of neuropathic pain after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rosner
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Neurology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Robin Lütolf
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Hostettler
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Villiger
- Department of Sports Medicine, Davos Hospital, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Ron Clijsen
- Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno/Landquart, Switzerland
- International University of Applied Sciences THIM, Landquart, Switzerland
| | - Erich Hohenauer
- Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno/Landquart, Switzerland
- International University of Applied Sciences THIM, Landquart, Switzerland
- Department of Neurosciences and Movement Science, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marco Barbero
- Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno/Landquart, Switzerland
| | - Armin Curt
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michèle Hubli
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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McIntyre WB, Pieczonka K, Khazaei M, Fehlings MG. Regenerative replacement of neural cells for treatment of spinal cord injury. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 21:1411-1427. [PMID: 33830863 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1914582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) results from primary physical injury to the spinal cord, which initiates a secondary cascade of neural cell death. Current therapeutic approaches can attenuate the consequences of the primary and secondary events, but do not address the degenerative aspects of SCI. Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) for the replacement of the lost/damaged neural cells is suggested here as a regenerative approach that is complementary to current therapeutics.Areas Covered: This review addresses how neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes are impacted by traumatic SCI, and how current research in regenerative-NPC therapeutics aims to restore their functionality. Methods used to enhance graft survival, as well as bias progenitor cells towards neuronal, oligodendrogenic, and astroglia lineages are discussed.Expert Opinion: Despite an NPC's ability to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes in the transplant environment, their potential therapeutic efficacy requires further optimization prior to translation into the clinic. Considering the temporospatial identity of NPCs could promote neural repair in region specific injuries throughout the spinal cord. Moreover, understanding which cells are targeted by NPC-derived myelinating cells can help restore physiologically-relevant myelin patterns. Finally, the duality of astrocytes is discussed, outlining their context-dependent importance in the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Brett McIntyre
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katarzyna Pieczonka
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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35
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Li G, Zhang B, Sun JH, Shi LY, Huang MY, Huang LJ, Lin ZJ, Lin QY, Lai BQ, Ma YH, Jiang B, Ding Y, Zhang HB, Li MX, Zhu P, Wang YQ, Zeng X, Zeng YS. An NT-3-releasing bioscaffold supports the formation of TrkC-modified neural stem cell-derived neural network tissue with efficacy in repairing spinal cord injury. Bioact Mater 2021; 6:3766-3781. [PMID: 33898877 PMCID: PMC8044869 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism underlying neurogenesis during embryonic spinal cord development involves a specific ligand/receptor interaction, which may be help guide neuroengineering to boost stem cell-based neural regeneration for the structural and functional repair of spinal cord injury. Herein, we hypothesized that supplying spinal cord defects with an exogenous neural network in the NT-3/fibroin-coated gelatin sponge (NF-GS) scaffold might improve tissue repair efficacy. To test this, we engineered tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkC)-modified neural stem cell (NSC)-derived neural network tissue with robust viability within an NF-GS scaffold. When NSCs were genetically modified to overexpress TrkC, the NT-3 receptor, a functional neuronal population dominated the neural network tissue. The pro-regenerative niche allowed the long-term survival and phenotypic maintenance of the donor neural network tissue for up to 8 weeks in the injured spinal cord. Additionally, host nerve fibers regenerated into the graft, making synaptic connections with the donor neurons. Accordingly, motor function recovery was significantly improved in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) that received TrkC-modified NSC-derived neural network tissue transplantation. Together, the results suggested that transplantation of the neural network tissue formed in the 3D bioactive scaffold may represent a valuable approach to study and develop therapies for SCI. A NT-3 sustained-release scaffold confers a microenvironment partially simulating the developmental spinal cord. The NT-3 microenvironment boosts neuronal differentiation of TrkC-modified NSCs by interactions between ligand and receptor. TrkC-NSCs is self-organized into a neural network tissue with typical neural excitability in 3D bioactive scaffold in vitro. The grafted neural network tissue can survive and maintain neural property, and improve motor function of paralyzed rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Li
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510100, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Bao Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jia-Hui Sun
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li-Yang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Meng-Yao Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Li-Jun Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zi-Jing Lin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qiong-Yu Lin
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510100, China
| | - Bi-Qin Lai
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yuan-Huan Ma
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ying Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Hong-Bo Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Miao-Xin Li
- Laboratory of Precision Medical Genomics, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ping Zhu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510100, China
| | - Ya-Qiong Wang
- Department of Electron Microscope, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yuan-Shan Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.,Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
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36
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Chen Y, Tian Z, He L, Liu C, Wang N, Rong L, Liu B. Exosomes derived from miR-26a-modified MSCs promote axonal regeneration via the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway following spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:224. [PMID: 33820561 PMCID: PMC8022427 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02282-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exosomes derived from the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) have shown great potential in spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. This research was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of miR-26a-modified MSC-derived exosomes (Exos-26a) following SCI. Methods Bioinformatics and data mining were performed to explore the role of miR-26a in SCI. Exosomes were isolated from miR-26a-modified MSC culture medium by ultracentrifugation. A series of experiments, including assessment of Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scale, histological evaluation, motor-evoked potential recording, diffusion tensor imaging, and western blotting, were performed to determine the therapeutic influence and the underlying molecular mechanisms of Exos-26a in SCI rats. Results Exos-26a was shown to promote axonal regeneration. Furthermore, we found that exosomes derived from miR-26a-modified MSC could improve neurogenesis and attenuate glial scarring through PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling cascades. Conclusions Exosomes derived from miR-26a-modified MSC could activate the PTEN-AKT-mTOR pathway to promote axonal regeneration and neurogenesis and attenuate glia scarring in SCI and thus present great potential for SCI treatment. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02282-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyong Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenming Tian
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Can Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Nangxiang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China
| | - Limin Rong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China.
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37
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Xue W, Fan C, Chen B, Zhao Y, Xiao Z, Dai J. Direct neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells for spinal cord injury repair. STEM CELLS (DAYTON, OHIO) 2021; 39:1025-1032. [PMID: 33657255 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) typically results in long-lasting functional deficits, largely due to primary and secondary white matter damage at the site of injury. The transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has shown promise for re-establishing communications between separated regions of the spinal cord through the insertion of new neurons between the injured axons and target neurons. However, the inhibitory microenvironment that develops after SCI often causes endogenous and transplanted NSCs to differentiate into glial cells rather than neurons. Functional biomaterials have been shown to mitigate the effects of the adverse SCI microenvironment and promote the neuronal differentiation of NSCs. A clear understanding of the mechanisms of neuronal differentiation within the injury-induced microenvironment would likely allow for the development of treatment strategies designed to promote the innate ability of NSCs to differentiate into neurons. The increased differentiation of neurons may contribute to relay formation, facilitating functional recovery after SCI. In this review, we summarize current strategies used to enhance the neuronal differentiation of NSCs through the reconstruction of the SCI microenvironment and to improve the intrinsic neuronal differentiation abilities of NSCs, which is significant for SCI repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Caixia Fan
- Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yannan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifeng Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianwu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface Research, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
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38
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Jones I, Novikova LN, Wiberg M, Carlsson L, Novikov LN. Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Neural Crest Cells Promote Sprouting and Motor Recovery Following Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rats. Cell Transplant 2021; 30:963689720988245. [PMID: 33522309 PMCID: PMC7863557 DOI: 10.1177/0963689720988245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury results in irreversible tissue damage and permanent sensorimotor impairment. The development of novel therapeutic strategies that improve the life quality of affected individuals is therefore of paramount importance. Cell transplantation is a promising approach for spinal cord injury treatment and the present study assesses the efficacy of human embryonic stem cell–derived neural crest cells as preclinical cell-based therapy candidates. The differentiated neural crest cells exhibited characteristic molecular signatures and produced a range of biologically active trophic factors that stimulated in vitro neurite outgrowth of rat primary dorsal root ganglia neurons. Transplantation of the neural crest cells into both acute and chronic rat cervical spinal cord injury models promoted remodeling of descending raphespinal projections and contributed to the partial recovery of forelimb motor function. The results achieved in this proof-of-concept study demonstrates that human embryonic stem cell–derived neural crest cells warrant further investigation as cell-based therapy candidates for the treatment of spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Jones
- 59588Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Mikael Wiberg
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Surgical and Perioperative Science, Section of Hand and Plastic Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Leif Carlsson
- 59588Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lev N Novikov
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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39
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Khazaei M, Ahuja CS, Nakashima H, Nagoshi N, Li L, Wang J, Chio J, Badner A, Seligman D, Ichise A, Shibata S, Fehlings MG. GDNF rescues the fate of neural progenitor grafts by attenuating Notch signals in the injured spinal cord in rodents. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/525/eaau3538. [PMID: 31915299 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we show that injury-induced Notch activation in the spinal cord microenvironment biases the fate of transplanted NPCs toward astrocytes in rodents. In a screen for potential clinically relevant factors to modulate Notch signaling, we identified glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). GDNF attenuates Notch signaling by mediating delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1) expression, which is independent of GDNF's effect on cell survival. When transplanted into a rodent model of cervical SCI, GDNF-expressing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NPCs (hiPSC-NPCs) demonstrated higher differentiation toward a neuronal fate compared to control cells. In addition, expression of GDNF promoted endogenous tissue sparing and enhanced electrical integration of transplanted cells, which collectively resulted in improved neurobehavioral recovery. CRISPR-induced knockouts of the DLK1 gene in GDNF-expressing hiPSC-NPCs attenuated the effect on functional recovery, demonstrating that this effect is partially mediated through DLK1 expression. These results represent a mechanistically driven optimization of hiPSC-NPC therapy to redirect transplanted cells toward a neuronal fate and enhance their integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Christopher S Ahuja
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hiroaki Nakashima
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Lijun Li
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jonathon Chio
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Anna Badner
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David Seligman
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Ayaka Ichise
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shibata
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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40
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Lv B, Zhang X, Yuan J, Chen Y, Ding H, Cao X, Huang A. Biomaterial-supported MSC transplantation enhances cell-cell communication for spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:36. [PMID: 33413653 PMCID: PMC7791771 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-02090-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system (CNS) and serves to connect the brain to the peripheral nervous system and peripheral tissues. The cell types that primarily comprise the spinal cord are neurons and several categories of glia, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. Ependymal cells and small populations of endogenous stem cells, such as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, also reside in the spinal cord. Neurons are interconnected in circuits; those that process cutaneous sensory input are mainly located in the dorsal spinal cord, while those involved in proprioception and motor control are predominately located in the ventral spinal cord. Due to the importance of the spinal cord, neurodegenerative disorders and traumatic injuries affecting the spinal cord will lead to motor deficits and loss of sensory inputs. Spinal cord injury (SCI), resulting in paraplegia and tetraplegia as a result of deleterious interconnected mechanisms encompassed by the primary and secondary injury, represents a heterogeneously behavioral and cognitive deficit that remains incurable. Following SCI, various barriers containing the neuroinflammation, neural tissue defect (neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes), cavity formation, loss of neuronal circuitry, and function must be overcame. Notably, the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects of cell–cell communication networks play critical roles in homeostatic, driving the pathophysiologic and consequent cognitive outcomes. In the spinal cord, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia are involved in not only development but also pathology. Glial cells play dual roles (negative vs. positive effects) in these processes. After SCI, detrimental effects usually dominate and significantly retard functional recovery, and curbing these effects is critical for promoting neurological improvement. Indeed, residential innate immune cells (microglia and astrocytes) and infiltrating leukocytes (macrophages and neutrophils), activated by SCI, give rise to full-blown inflammatory cascades. These inflammatory cells release neurotoxins (proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, free radicals, excitotoxic amino acids, nitric oxide (NO)), all of which partake in axonal and neuronal deficit. Given the various multifaceted obstacles in SCI treatment, a combinatorial therapy of cell transplantation and biomaterial implantation may be addressed in detail here. For the sake of preserving damaged tissue integrity and providing physical support and trophic supply for axon regeneration, MSC transplantation has come to the front stage in therapy for SCI with the constant progress of stem cell engineering. MSC transplantation promotes scaffold integration and regenerative growth potential. Integrating into the implanted scaffold, MSCs influence implant integration by improving the healing process. Conversely, biomaterial scaffolds offer MSCs with a sheltered microenvironment from the surrounding pathological changes, in addition to bridging connection spinal cord stump and offering physical and directional support for axonal regeneration. Besides, Biomaterial scaffolds mimic the extracellular matrix to suppress immune responses. Here, we review the advances in combinatorial biomaterial scaffolds and MSC transplantation approach that targets certain aspects of various intercellular communications in the pathologic process following SCI. Finally, the challenges of biomaterial-supported MSC transplantation and its future direction for neuronal regeneration will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lv
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jishan Yuan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yongxin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hua Ding
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xinbing Cao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Anquan Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, 215000, Jiangsu Province, China.
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41
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Kajitani T, Endo T, Iwabuchi N, Inoue T, Takahashi Y, Abe T, Niizuma K, Tominaga T. Association of intravenous administration of human Muse cells with deficit amelioration in a rat model of spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Spine 2021; 34:648-655. [PMID: 33385996 DOI: 10.3171/2020.7.spine20293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are pluripotent stem cells, which can be harvested from the bone marrow. After transplantation, Muse cells can migrate to an injured site of the body and exert repair effects. However, it remains unknown whether Muse cell transplantation can be an effective treatment in spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS The authors used a rat model of thoracic spinal cord contusion injury. For Muse cell transplantation, the clinical product CL2020 containing 300,000 Muse cells was administered intravenously 1 day after midthoracic SCI. Animals were divided into CL2020 (n = 11) and vehicle-treated (n = 15) groups. Behavioral and histological evaluations were conducted over a period of 8 weeks to see whether intravenous CL2020 administration provided therapeutic effects for SCI. The effects of human-selective diphtheria toxin on reversion of the therapeutic effects of CL2020 were also investigated. RESULTS Hindlimb motor function significantly improved after CL2020 transplantations. Importantly, the effects were reverted by the human-selective diphtheria toxin. In immunohistochemical analyses, the cystic cavity formed after the injury was smaller in the CL2020 group. Furthermore, higher numbers of descending 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) fibers were preserved distal to the injury site after CL2020 administration. Eight weeks after the injury, Muse cells in CL2020 were confirmed to differentiate most predominantly into neuronal cells in the injured spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS Following SCI, Muse cells in CL2020 can reach the injured spinal cord after intravenous administration and differentiate into neuronal cells. Muse cells in CL2020 facilitated nerve fiber preservation and exerted therapeutic potential for severe SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kajitani
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Toshiki Endo
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Sendai Medical Center
| | - Naoya Iwabuchi
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Tomoo Inoue
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Sendai Medical Center
| | | | - Takatsugu Abe
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Kuniyasu Niizuma
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
- 3Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering; and
- 4Department of Neurosurgical Engineering and Translational Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Teiji Tominaga
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
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42
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Li C, Wang K, Li T, Zhou X, Ma Z, Deng C, He C, Wang B, Wang J. Patient-specific Scaffolds with a Biomimetic Gradient Environment for Articular Cartilage–Subchondral Bone Regeneration. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:4820-4831. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cuidi Li
- Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Kan Wang
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Tao Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhou
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Zhenjiang Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Changxu Deng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chuanglong He
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Ben Wang
- Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jinwu Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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43
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Fischer I, Dulin JN, Lane MA. Transplanting neural progenitor cells to restore connectivity after spinal cord injury. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:366-383. [PMID: 32518349 PMCID: PMC8384139 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0314-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury remains a scientific and therapeutic challenge with great cost to individuals and society. The goal of research in this field is to find a means of restoring lost function. Recently we have seen considerable progress in understanding the injury process and the capacity of CNS neurons to regenerate, as well as innovations in stem cell biology. This presents an opportunity to develop effective transplantation strategies to provide new neural cells to promote the formation of new neuronal networks and functional connectivity. Past and ongoing clinical studies have demonstrated the safety of cell therapy, and preclinical research has used models of spinal cord injury to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which donor cells interact with the host and thus increase long-term efficacy. While a variety of cell therapies have been explored, we focus here on the use of neural progenitor cells obtained or derived from different sources to promote connectivity in sensory, motor and autonomic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzhak Fischer
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Jennifer N Dulin
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Michael A Lane
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Three Growth Factors Induce Proliferation and Differentiation of Neural Precursor Cells In Vitro and Support Cell-Transplantation after Spinal Cord Injury In Vivo. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:5674921. [PMID: 32774390 PMCID: PMC7399764 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5674921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy with neural precursor cells (NPCs) has the potential to improve neuroregeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Unfortunately, survival and differentiation of transplanted NPCs in the injured spinal cord remains low. Growth factors have been successfully used to improve NPC transplantation in animal models, but their extensive application is associated with a relevant financial burden and might hinder translation of findings into the clinical practice. In our current study, we assessed the potential of a reduced number of growth factors in different combinations and concentrations to increase proliferation and differentiation of NPCs in vitro. After identifying a “cocktail” (EGF, bFGF, and PDGF-AA) that directed cell fate towards the oligodendroglial and neuronal lineage while reducing astrocytic differentiation, we translated our findings into an in vivo model of cervical clip contusion/compression SCI at the C6 level in immunosuppressed Wistar rats, combining NPC transplantation and intrathecal administration of the growth factors 10 days after injury. Eight weeks after SCI, we could observe surviving NPCs in the injured animals that had mostly differentiated into oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocytic precursors. Moreover, “Stride length” and “Average Speed” in the CatWalk gait analysis were significantly improved 8 weeks after SCI, representing beneficial effects on the functional recovery with NPC transplantation and the administration of the three growth factors. Nevertheless, no effects on the BBB scores could be observed over the course of the experiment and regeneration of descending tracts as well as posttraumatic myelination remained unchanged. However, reactive astrogliosis, as well as posttraumatic inflammation and apoptosis was significantly reduced after NPC transplantation and GF administration. Our data suggest that NPC transplantation is feasible with the use of only EGF, bFGF, and PDGF-AA as supporting growth factors.
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45
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Therapeutic potential of stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:1073-1101. [DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Griffin JM, Bradke F. Therapeutic repair for spinal cord injury: combinatory approaches to address a multifaceted problem. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e11505. [PMID: 32090481 PMCID: PMC7059014 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201911505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent years saw the advent of promising preclinical strategies that combat the devastating effects of a spinal cord injury (SCI) that are progressing towards clinical trials. However, individually, these treatments produce only modest levels of recovery in animal models of SCI that could hamper their implementation into therapeutic strategies in spinal cord injured humans. Combinational strategies have demonstrated greater beneficial outcomes than their individual components alone by addressing multiple aspects of SCI pathology. Clinical trial designs in the future will eventually also need to align with this notion. The scenario will become increasingly complex as this happens and conversations between basic researchers and clinicians are required to ensure accurate study designs and functional readouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarred M Griffin
- Laboratory for Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank Bradke
- Laboratory for Axonal Growth and Regeneration, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
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Liu W, Rong Y, Wang J, Zhou Z, Ge X, Ji C, Jiang D, Gong F, Li L, Chen J, Zhao S, Kong F, Gu C, Fan J, Cai W. Exosome-shuttled miR-216a-5p from hypoxic preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells repair traumatic spinal cord injury by shifting microglial M1/M2 polarization. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:47. [PMID: 32019561 PMCID: PMC7001326 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-1726-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to severe motor and sensory dysfunction with high disability and mortality. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-secreted nano-sized exosomes have shown great potential for promoting functional behavioral recovery following SCI. However, MSCs are usually exposed to normoxia in vitro, which differs greatly from the hypoxic micro-environment in vivo. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to determine whether exosomes derived from MSCs under hypoxia (HExos) exhibit greater effects on functional behavioral recovery than those under normoxia (Exos) following SCI in mice and to seek the underlying mechanism. Methods Electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blot were applied to characterize differences between Exos and HExos group. A SCI model in vivo and a series of in vitro experiments were performed to compare the therapeutic effects between the two groups. Next, a miRNA microarray analysis was performed and a series of rescue experiments were conducted to verify the role of hypoxic exosomal miRNA in SCI. Western blot, luciferase activity, and RNA-ChIP were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results Our results indicate that HExos promote functional behavioral recovery by shifting microglial polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype in vivo and in vitro. A miRNA array showed miR-216a-5p to be the most enriched in HExos and potentially involved in HExos-mediated microglial polarization. TLR4 was identified as the target downstream gene of miR-216a-5p and the miR-216a-5p/TLR4 axis was confirmed by a series of gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Finally, we found that TLR4/NF-κB/PI3K/AKT signaling cascades may be involved in the modulation of microglial polarization by hypoxic exosomal miR-216a-5p. Conclusion Hypoxia preconditioning represents a promising and effective approach to optimize the therapeutic actions of MSC-derived exosomes and a combination of MSC-derived exosomes and miRNAs may present a minimally invasive method for treating SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuluo Rong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuhui Ge
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chengyue Ji
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongdong Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fangyi Gong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linwei Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shujie Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanqi Kong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Changjiang Gu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin Fan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weihua Cai
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
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Qian K, Xu TY, Wang X, Ma T, Zhang KX, Yang K, Qian TD, Shi J, Li LX, Wang Z. Effects of neural stem cell transplantation on the motor function of rats with contusion spinal cord injuries: a meta-analysis. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:748-758. [PMID: 31638100 PMCID: PMC6975148 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To judge the efficacies of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation on functional recovery following contusion spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Data sources Studies in which NSCs were transplanted into a clinically relevant, standardized rat model of contusion SCI were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases, and the extracted data were analyzed by Stata 14.0. Data selection Inclusion criteria were that NSCs were used in in vivo animal studies to treat contusion SCIs and that behavioral assessment of locomotor functional recovery was performed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan lo-comotor rating scale. Exclusion criteria included a follow-up of less than 4 weeks and the lack of control groups. Outcome measures The restoration of motor function was assessed by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. Results We identified 1756 non-duplicated papers by searching the aforementioned electronic databases, and 30 full-text articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 37 studies reported in the 30 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that transplanted NSCs could improve the motor function recovery of rats following contusion SCIs, to a moderate extent (pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-1.00; P < 0.001). NSCs obtained from different donor species (rat: SMD = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.36-1.13; human: SMD = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.31-1.25), at different donor ages (fetal: SMD = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.43-0.92; adult: SMD = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.50-1.22) and from different origins (brain-derived: SMD = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.27-0.91; spinal cord-derived: SMD = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.22-0.79) had similar efficacies on improved functional recovery; however, adult induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs showed no significant efficacies. Furthermore, the use of higher doses of transplanted NSCs or the administration of immunosuppressive agents did not promote better locomotor function recovery (SMD = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21-0.70). However, shorter periods between the contusion induction and the NSC transplantation showed slightly higher efficacies (acute: SMD = 1.22; 95% CI: 0.81-1.63; subacute: SMD = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.42-1.09). For chronic injuries, NSC implantation did not significantly improve functional recovery (SMD = 0.25; 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.65). Conclusion NSC transplantation alone appears to be a positive yet limited method for the treatment of contusion SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tuo-Ye Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing; Department of Neurosurgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kai-Xin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province; Department of Neurosurgery, Huangshan City People's Hospital, Huangshan, Anhui Province, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University; Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Teng-Da Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing; Department of Neurosurgery, Jintan Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Jintan, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li-Xin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Gerontology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Hwang K, Jung K, Kim IS, Kim M, Han J, Lim J, Shin JE, Jang JH, Park KI. Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor-overexpressing Human Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Enhance Therapeutic Efficiency in Rat with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Exp Neurobiol 2019; 28:679-696. [PMID: 31902156 PMCID: PMC6946112 DOI: 10.5607/en.2019.28.6.679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes axonal damage and demyelination, neural cell death, and comprehensive tissue loss, resulting in devastating neurological dysfunction. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPCs) transplantation provides therapeutic benefits for neural repair in SCI, and glial cell linederived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been uncovered to have capability of stimulating axonal regeneration and remyelination after SCI. In this study, to evaluate whether GDNF would augment therapeutic effects of NSPCs for SCI, GDNF-encoding or mock adenoviral vector-transduced human NSPCs (GDNF-or Mock-hNSPCs) were transplanted into the injured thoracic spinal cords of rats at 7 days after SCI. Grafted GDNFhNSPCs showed robust engraftment, long-term survival, an extensive distribution, and increased differentiation into neurons and oligodendroglial cells. Compared with Mock-hNSPC- and vehicle-injected groups, transplantation of GDNF-hNSPCs significantly reduced lesion volume and glial scar formation, promoted neurite outgrowth, axonal regeneration and myelination, increased Schwann cell migration that contributed to the myelin repair, and improved locomotor recovery. In addition, tract tracing demonstrated that transplantation of GDNF-hNSPCs reduced significantly axonal dieback of the dorsal corticospinal tract (dCST), and increased the levels of dCST collaterals, propriospinal neurons (PSNs), and contacts between dCST collaterals and PSNs in the cervical enlargement over that of the controls. Finally grafted GDNF-hNSPCs substantially reversed the increased expression of voltage-gated sodium channels and neuropeptide Y, and elevated expression of GABA in the injured spinal cord, which are involved in the attenuation of neuropathic pain after SCI. These findings suggest that implantation of GDNF-hNSPCs enhances therapeutic efficiency of hNSPCs-based cell therapy for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyujin Hwang
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Kwangsoo Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Il-Sun Kim
- Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Miri Kim
- Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jungho Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Joohee Lim
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jae-Hyung Jang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Kook In Park
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
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Multipotent Neurotrophic Effects of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20236078. [PMID: 31810304 PMCID: PMC6928986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20236078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in neural tissue loss and so far untreatable functional impairment. In addition, at the initial injury site, inflammation induces secondary damage, and glial scar formation occurs to limit inflammation-mediated tissue damage. Consequently, it obstructs neural regeneration. Many studies have been conducted in the field of SCI; however, no satisfactory treatment has been established to date. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the neurotrophic growth factors and has been listed as a candidate medicine for SCI treatment. The highlighted effects of HGF on neural regeneration are associated with its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities. Moreover, HGF exerts positive effects on transplanted stem cell differentiation into neurons. This paper reviews the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of HGF in SCI recovery, and introduces recent advances in the clinical applications of HGF therapy.
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