The trigeminal root entry zone is the zone at which the myelination switches from peripheral Schwann cells to central oligodendrocytes.Its special anatomical and physiological structure renders it susceptible to nerve...The trigeminal root entry zone is the zone at which the myelination switches from peripheral Schwann cells to central oligodendrocytes.Its special anatomical and physiological structure renders it susceptible to nerve injury.The etiology of most primary trigeminal neuralgia is closely related to microvascular compression of the trigeminal root entry zone.This study aimed to develop an efficient in vitro model mimicking the glial environment of trigeminal root entry zone as a tool to investigate the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the structural and functional integrity of trigeminal root entry zone and modulation of cellular interactions.Primary astrocytes and Schwann cells isolated from trigeminal root entry zone of postnatal rats were inoculated into a two-well silicon culture insert to mimic the trigeminal root entry zone microenvironment and treated with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.In monoculture,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the migration of Schwann cells,but it did not have effects on the migration of astrocytes.In the co-culture system,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the bidirectional migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor markedly promoted the activation and migration of astrocytes.However,in the co-culture system,brain-derived neurotrophic factor inhibited the migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells to a certain degree.These findings suggest that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are involved in the regulation of the astrocyte-Schwann cell interaction in the co-culture system derived from the trigeminal root entry zone.This system can be used as a cell model to study the mechanism of glial dysregulation associated with trigeminal nerve injury and possible therapeutic interventions.展开更多
Hippocampus serves as a pivotal role in cognitive and emotional processes,as well as in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.It is known to undergo mild neurodegenerative changes during normal aging and s...Hippocampus serves as a pivotal role in cognitive and emotional processes,as well as in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.It is known to undergo mild neurodegenerative changes during normal aging and severe atrophy in Alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,dysregulation in the hippocampal function leads to epilepsy and mood disorders.In the first section,we summarized the most salient knowledge on the role of glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptors focused on aging,cognition and neurodegenerative and hippocampal-related neurological diseases mentioned above.In the second section,we reviewed the therapeutic approaches,particularly gene therapy,using glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor or its gene,as a key molecule in the development of neurological disorders.In the third section,we pointed at the potential of regenerative medicine,as an emerging and less explored strategy for the treatment of hippocampal disorders.We briefly reviewed the use of partial reprogramming to restore brain functions,non-neuronal cell reprogramming to generate neural stem cells,and neural progenitor cells as source-specific neuronal types to be implanted in animal models of specific neurodegenerative disorders.展开更多
BACKGROUND Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a neurological disorder characterized by the progressive loss of midbrain dopamine(DA)neurons.Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can differentiate into multiple cell types i...BACKGROUND Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a neurological disorder characterized by the progressive loss of midbrain dopamine(DA)neurons.Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can differentiate into multiple cell types including neurons and glia.Transplantation of BMSCs is regarded as a potential approach for promoting neural regeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)can induce BMSC differentiation into neuron-like cells.This work evaluated the efficacy of nigral grafts of human BMSCs(hMSCs)and/or adenoviral(Ad)GDNF gene transfer in 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)-lesioned hemiparkinsonian rats.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of nigral grafts of hMSCs and/or Ad-GDNF gene transfer in 6-OHDA-lesioned hemiparkinsonian rats.METHODS We used immortalized hMSCs,which retain their potential for neuronal differentiation.hMSCs,preinduced hMSCs,or Ad-GDNF effectively enhanced neuronal connections in cultured neurons.In vivo,preinduced hMSCs and/or Ad-GDNF were injected into the substantia nigra(SN)after induction of a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion in the nigrostriatal pathway.RESULTS Hemiparkinsonian rats that received preinduced hMSC graft and/or Ad-GDNF showed significant recovery of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior and the number of nigral DA neurons.However,DA levels in the striatum were not restored by these therapeutic treatments.Grafted hMSCs might reconstitute a niche to support tissue repair rather than contribute to the generation of new neurons in the injured SN.CONCLUSION The results suggest that preinduced hMSC grafts exert a regenerative effect and may have the potential to improve clinical outcome.展开更多
Neurodegenerative diseases,including Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,are a group of incurable neurological disorders,characterized by the chronic progr...Neurodegenerative diseases,including Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,are a group of incurable neurological disorders,characterized by the chronic progressive loss of different neuronal subtypes.However,despite its increasing prevalence among the everincreasing aging population,little progress has been made in the coincident immense efforts towards development of therapeutic agents.Research interest has recently turned towards stem cells including stem cells-derived exosomes,neurotrophic factors,and their combination as potential therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases.In this review,we summarize the progress in therapeutic strategies based on stem cells combined with neurotrophic factors and mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes for neurodegenerative diseases,with an emphasis on the combination therapy.展开更多
Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage,and it improves outcomes in experimental animal models and patients.However,the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for c...Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage,and it improves outcomes in experimental animal models and patients.However,the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for cerebral hemorrhage are still unclear.In this study,a model of intracerebral hemorrhage was produced by injecting 50μL autologous blood into the caudate nucleus in Wistar rats.Acupuncture at Baihui(DU20)and Qubin(GB7)acupoints was performed at a depth of 1.0 inch,12 hours after blood injection,once every 24 hours.The needle was rotated at 200 r/min for 5 minutes,For each 30-minute session,needling at 200 r/min was performed for three sessions,each lasting 5 minutes.For the positive control group,at 6 hours,and 1,2,3 and 7 days after induction of hemorrhage,the rats were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL aniracetam(0.75 mg/mL),three times a day.The Bederson behavioral test was used to assess palsy in the contralateral limbs.Western blot assay was used to examine the expression levels of Nestin and basic fibroblast growth factor in the basal ganglia.Immunohistochemistry was performed to count the number of Nestin-and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-positive cells in the basal ganglia.Acupuncture effectively reduced hemorrhage and brain edema,elevated the expression levels of Nestin and basic fibroblast growth factor in the basal ganglia,and increased the number of Nestin-and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-positive cells in the basal ganglia.Together,these findings suggest that acupuncture promotes functional recovery after cerebral hemorrhage by increasing the expression of neurotrophic factors.The study was approved by the Committee for Experimental Animals of Heilongjiang Medical Laboratory Animal Center(approval No.2017061001)on June 10,2017.展开更多
Post-traumatic spinal cord remodeling includes both degenerating and regenerating processes,which affect the potency of the functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI).Gene therapy for spinal cord injury is prop...Post-traumatic spinal cord remodeling includes both degenerating and regenerating processes,which affect the potency of the functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI).Gene therapy for spinal cord injury is proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy to induce positive changes in remodeling of the affected neural tissue.In our previous studies for delivering the therapeutic genes at the site of spinal cord injury,we developed a new approach using an autologous leucoconcentrate transduced ex vivo with chimeric adenoviruses(Ad5/35)carrying recombinant cDNA.In the present study,the efficacy of the intravenous infusion of an autologous genetically-enriched leucoconcentrate simultaneously producing recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),and neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM)was evaluated with regard to the molecular and cellular changes in remodeling of the spinal cord tissue at the site of damage in a model of mini-pigs with moderate spinal cord injury.Experimental animals were randomly divided into two groups of 4 pigs each:the therapeutic(infused with the leucoconcentrate simultaneously transduced with a combination of the three chimeric adenoviral vectors Ad5/35‐VEGF165,Ad5/35‐GDNF,and Ad5/35‐NCAM1)and control groups(infused with intact leucoconcentrate).The morphometric and immunofluorescence analysis of the spinal cord regeneration in the rostral and caudal segments according to the epicenter of the injury in the treated animals compared to the control mini-pigs showed:(1)higher sparing of the grey matter and increased survivability of the spinal cord cells(lower number of Caspase-3-positive cells and decreased expression of Hsp27);(2)recovery of synaptophysin expression;(3)prevention of astrogliosis(lower area of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1-positive microglial cells);(4)higher growth rates of regeneratingβIII-tubulin-positive axons accompanied by a higher number of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2-positive oligodendroglial cells in the lateral corticospinal tract region.These results revealed the efficacy of intravenous infusion of the autologous genetically-enriched leucoconcentrate producing recombinant VEGF,GDNF,and NCAM in the acute phase of spinal cord injury on the positive changes in the post-traumatic remodeling nervous tissue at the site of direct injury.Our data provide a solid platform for a new ex vivo gene therapy for spinal cord injury and will facilitate further translation of regenerative therapies in clinical neurology.展开更多
Type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors,encompassing selegiline,rasagiline,and safinamide,are available to treat Parkinson's disease.These drugs ameliorate motor symptoms and improve motor fluctuation in the advanced ...Type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors,encompassing selegiline,rasagiline,and safinamide,are available to treat Parkinson's disease.These drugs ameliorate motor symptoms and improve motor fluctuation in the advanced stages of the disease.There is also evidence suppo rting the benefit of type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease,such as mood deflection,cognitive impairment,sleep disturbances,and fatigue.Preclinical studies indicate that type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors hold a strong neuroprotective potential in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases for reducing oxidative stress and stimulating the production and release of neurotrophic factors,particularly glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,which suppo rt dopaminergic neurons.Besides,safinamide may interfere with neurodegenerative mechanisms,countera cting excessive glutamate overdrive in basal ganglia motor circuit and reducing death from excitotoxicity.Due to the dual mechanism of action,the new generation of type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors,including safinamide,is gaining interest in other neurological pathologies,and many supporting preclinical studies are now available.The potential fields of application concern epilepsy,Duchenne muscular dystrophy,multiple scle rosis,and above all,ischemic brain injury.The purpose of this review is to investigate the preclinical and clinical pharmacology of selegiline,rasagiline,and safinamide in Parkinson's disease and beyond,focusing on possible future therapeutic applications.展开更多
Parkinson’s disease is the most common movement disorder,affecting about 1%of the population over the age of 60 years.Parkinson’s disease is characterized clinically by resting tremor,bradykinesia,rigidity and postu...Parkinson’s disease is the most common movement disorder,affecting about 1%of the population over the age of 60 years.Parkinson’s disease is characterized clinically by resting tremor,bradykinesia,rigidity and postural instability,as a result of the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.In addition to this neuronal cell loss,Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates,Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites,composed primarily of the proteinα-synuclein.Although it was first described almost 200 years ago,there are no disease-modifying drugs to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease.In addition to conventional therapies,non-pharmacological treatment strategies are under investigation in patients and animal models of neurodegenerative disorders.Among such strategies,environmental enrichment,comprising physical exercise,cognitive stimulus,and social interactions,has been assessed in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease.Environmental enrichment can cause structural and functional changes in the brain and promote neurogenesis and dendritic growth by modifying gene expression,enhancing the expression of neurotrophic factors and modulating neurotransmission.In this review article,we focus on the current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental enrichment neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease,highlighting its influence on the dopaminergic,cholinergic,glutamatergic and GABAergic systems,as well as the involvement of neurotrophic factors.We describe experimental pre-clinical data showing how environmental enrichment can act as a modulator in a neurochemical and behavioral context in different animal models of Parkinson’s disease,highlighting the potential of environmental enrichment as an additional strategy in the management and prevention of this complex disease.展开更多
Studies have found that the absence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor may be the primary risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. However, there have not been any studies conducted on the potential relations...Studies have found that the absence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor may be the primary risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. However, there have not been any studies conducted on the potential relationship between glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive performance in Parkinson’s disease. We first performed a retrospective case-control study at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between September 2018 and January 2020 and found that a decreased serum level of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor was a risk factor for cognitive disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease. We then established a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and analyzed the potential relationships among glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex, dopamine transmission, and cognitive function. Our results showed that decreased glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex weakened dopamine release and transmission by upregulating the presynaptic membrane expression of the dopamine transporter, which led to the loss and primitivization of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons and cognitive impairment. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging data showed that the long-term lack of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor reduced the connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions, and exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor significantly improved this connectivity. These findings suggested that decreased glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex leads to neuroplastic degeneration at the level of synaptic connections and circuits, which results in cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.展开更多
Neuroma formation after peripheral nerve transection often leads to severe neuropathic pain.Regenerative peripheral nerve interface has been shown to reduce painful neuroma in the clinic.However,no reports have invest...Neuroma formation after peripheral nerve transection often leads to severe neuropathic pain.Regenerative peripheral nerve interface has been shown to reduce painful neuroma in the clinic.However,no reports have investigated the underlying mechanisms,and no comparative animal studies on regenerative peripheral nerve interface and other means of neuroma prevention have been conducted to date.In this study,we established a rat model of left sciatic nerve transfection,and subsequently interfered with the model using the regenerative peripheral nerve interface or proximal nerve stump implantation inside a fully innervated muscle.Results showed that,compared with rats subjected to nerve stump implantation inside the muscle,rats subjected to regenerative peripheral nerve interface intervention showed greater inhibition of the proliferation of collagenous fibers and irregular regenerated axons,lower expressions of the fibrosis markerα-smooth muscle actin and the inflammatory marker sigma-1 receptor in the proximal nerve stump,lower autophagy behaviors,lower expressions of c-fos and substance P,higher expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia.These findings suggested that regenerative peripheral nerve interface inhibits peripheral nerve injury-induced neuroma formation and neuropathic pain possibly via the upregulation of the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the dorsal root ganglia and reducing neuroinflammation in the nerve stump.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerv...Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerve lesions,especially lesions with large(≥3 cm)nerve gaps,is the use of a nerve autograft or reimplantation in cases where nerve root avulsions occur.If not tended early,degeneration of motor neurons and loss of axon regeneration can occur,leading to loss of function.Although surgical procedures exist,patients often do not fully recover,and quality of life deteriorates.Peripheral nerves have limited regeneration,and it is usually mediated by Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors,like glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,as seen in Wallerian degeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is a neurotrophic factor known to promote motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is upregulated in different forms of nerve injuries like axotomy,sciatic nerve crush,and compression,thus creating great interest to explore this protein as a potential treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.Exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor has shown positive effects in regeneration and functional recovery when applied in experimental models of peripheral nerve injuries.In this review,we discuss the mechanism of repair provided by Schwann cells and upregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,the latest findings on the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in different types of peripheral nerve injuries,delivery systems,and complementary treatments(electrical muscle stimulation and exercise).Understanding and overcoming the challenges of proper timing and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor delivery is paramount to creating novel treatments to tend to peripheral nerve injuries to improve patients'quality of life.展开更多
The neurotrophic signaling of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)with its canonical receptor,the receptor tyrosine kinase RET,coupled together with the GDNF family receptor alpha 1 is important for dopam...The neurotrophic signaling of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)with its canonical receptor,the receptor tyrosine kinase RET,coupled together with the GDNF family receptor alpha 1 is important for dopaminergic neuron survival and physiology in cell culture experiments and animal models.This prompted the idea to try GDNF/RET signaling as a therapeutic approach to treat Parkinson’s disease with the hallmark of dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra of the midbrain.Despite several clinical trials with GDNF in Parkinson’s disease patients,which mainly focused on optimizing the GDNF delivery technique,benefits were only seen in a few patients.In general,the endpoints did not show significant improvements.This suggests that it will be helpful to learn more about the basic biology of this fascinating but complicated GDNF/RET signaling system in the dopaminergic midbrain and about recent developments in the field to facilitate its use in the clinic.Here we will refer to the latest publications and point out important open questions in the field.展开更多
Objective:To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),and phosphatidylinositol-3-...Objective:To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control,sham-operated,facial nerve injury(FNI),EA,EA+3-methyladenine(3-MA),and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table,with 12 rats in each group.An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method.EA intervention was conducted at Dicang(ST 4),Jiache(ST 6),Yifeng(SJ 17),and Hegu(LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks.The Simone’s 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function.The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.The levels of Beclin-1,light chain 3(LC3),and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC),immunofluorescence,and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction,respectively.Additionally,IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF,Rai,PI3K,and mTOR.Results:The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths,which were destroyed immediately after the injury,were recovered with EA treatment.The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats(P<0.01);however,EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes(P<0.01).Meanwhile,EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF,Rai,PI3K,and mTOR(P<0.01).After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist,the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions:EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI.EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF,activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway,and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.展开更多
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),a disease-modifying drug for Parkinson’s disease(PD)is in Phase 2 clinical trials(EudraCT number:2011-003866-34),however it is administered by direct intrastriatal de...Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),a disease-modifying drug for Parkinson’s disease(PD)is in Phase 2 clinical trials(EudraCT number:2011-003866-34),however it is administered by direct intrastriatal delivery via stereotaxy,which is accompanied with intracranial infection,brain tissue damage,and other complications.In addition,because of complex administration routes,clinical trials of GDNF have yielded contrary results,largely due to differences in dose and concentration brought by intracranial device.Herein,a small molecular agonist SC79 was screened to open blood-brain barrier(BBB)and promote GDNF liposomes to get into brain.SC79 reversibly reduces the expression of claudin-5,one of dominant tight junctions of BBB.Animal study showed SC79 promoted liposomes to enter into brain parenchyma 2.43 times more than that of the control.Motor deficits of PD mice receiving SC79 and brain-targeted GDNF liposomes were recovered by 36.70%and tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in striatum were restored by 39.90%.Our combination therapy effectively avoids the side effects such as secondary infection and uneven delivery caused by intracranial injection,improving patients’compliance and providing valuable research ideas for the clinic.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Sclence Foundation of China in 2021No.82171213+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province in 2019No.2019J01289 (both to DSL)
文摘The trigeminal root entry zone is the zone at which the myelination switches from peripheral Schwann cells to central oligodendrocytes.Its special anatomical and physiological structure renders it susceptible to nerve injury.The etiology of most primary trigeminal neuralgia is closely related to microvascular compression of the trigeminal root entry zone.This study aimed to develop an efficient in vitro model mimicking the glial environment of trigeminal root entry zone as a tool to investigate the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the structural and functional integrity of trigeminal root entry zone and modulation of cellular interactions.Primary astrocytes and Schwann cells isolated from trigeminal root entry zone of postnatal rats were inoculated into a two-well silicon culture insert to mimic the trigeminal root entry zone microenvironment and treated with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.In monoculture,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the migration of Schwann cells,but it did not have effects on the migration of astrocytes.In the co-culture system,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promoted the bidirectional migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor markedly promoted the activation and migration of astrocytes.However,in the co-culture system,brain-derived neurotrophic factor inhibited the migration of astrocytes and Schwann cells to a certain degree.These findings suggest that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor are involved in the regulation of the astrocyte-Schwann cell interaction in the co-culture system derived from the trigeminal root entry zone.This system can be used as a cell model to study the mechanism of glial dysregulation associated with trigeminal nerve injury and possible therapeutic interventions.
基金supported by grant #PICT16-1070 from the Argentine Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology (ANCYPT) to GRM。
文摘Hippocampus serves as a pivotal role in cognitive and emotional processes,as well as in the regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.It is known to undergo mild neurodegenerative changes during normal aging and severe atrophy in Alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,dysregulation in the hippocampal function leads to epilepsy and mood disorders.In the first section,we summarized the most salient knowledge on the role of glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptors focused on aging,cognition and neurodegenerative and hippocampal-related neurological diseases mentioned above.In the second section,we reviewed the therapeutic approaches,particularly gene therapy,using glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor or its gene,as a key molecule in the development of neurological disorders.In the third section,we pointed at the potential of regenerative medicine,as an emerging and less explored strategy for the treatment of hippocampal disorders.We briefly reviewed the use of partial reprogramming to restore brain functions,non-neuronal cell reprogramming to generate neural stem cells,and neural progenitor cells as source-specific neuronal types to be implanted in animal models of specific neurodegenerative disorders.
基金Supported by Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan,No.V106C-012,No.V107C-087,and No.V109C-018and Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan,No.MOST106-2314-B-075-023,No.MOST107-2314-B-010-023,and No.MOST107-2314-B-075-021.
文摘BACKGROUND Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a neurological disorder characterized by the progressive loss of midbrain dopamine(DA)neurons.Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can differentiate into multiple cell types including neurons and glia.Transplantation of BMSCs is regarded as a potential approach for promoting neural regeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)can induce BMSC differentiation into neuron-like cells.This work evaluated the efficacy of nigral grafts of human BMSCs(hMSCs)and/or adenoviral(Ad)GDNF gene transfer in 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)-lesioned hemiparkinsonian rats.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of nigral grafts of hMSCs and/or Ad-GDNF gene transfer in 6-OHDA-lesioned hemiparkinsonian rats.METHODS We used immortalized hMSCs,which retain their potential for neuronal differentiation.hMSCs,preinduced hMSCs,or Ad-GDNF effectively enhanced neuronal connections in cultured neurons.In vivo,preinduced hMSCs and/or Ad-GDNF were injected into the substantia nigra(SN)after induction of a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion in the nigrostriatal pathway.RESULTS Hemiparkinsonian rats that received preinduced hMSC graft and/or Ad-GDNF showed significant recovery of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior and the number of nigral DA neurons.However,DA levels in the striatum were not restored by these therapeutic treatments.Grafted hMSCs might reconstitute a niche to support tissue repair rather than contribute to the generation of new neurons in the injured SN.CONCLUSION The results suggest that preinduced hMSC grafts exert a regenerative effect and may have the potential to improve clinical outcome.
基金Supported by the Social Development Project of Jiangsu Science and Technology Department,No.BE2015721。
文摘Neurodegenerative diseases,including Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,are a group of incurable neurological disorders,characterized by the chronic progressive loss of different neuronal subtypes.However,despite its increasing prevalence among the everincreasing aging population,little progress has been made in the coincident immense efforts towards development of therapeutic agents.Research interest has recently turned towards stem cells including stem cells-derived exosomes,neurotrophic factors,and their combination as potential therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases.In this review,we summarize the progress in therapeutic strategies based on stem cells combined with neurotrophic factors and mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes for neurodegenerative diseases,with an emphasis on the combination therapy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81473764,81273824,30772840(to WZ)the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China,No.20102327110003(to WZ)+4 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China,No.ZD201204(to WZ)the Special Fund for Technological Innovation Research of Harbin of China,No.2012RFXXS062(to WZ)the Doctoral Innovation Fund of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine of China,No.2015bs03(to QXC)the Chunhui Plans Research Cooperation Project of China,No.Z2007-1-15010(to WZ)the University Nursing Program for Young Scholars with Creative Talents in Heilongjiang Province of China,No.UNPYSCT-2018234(to QXC)
文摘Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage,and it improves outcomes in experimental animal models and patients.However,the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for cerebral hemorrhage are still unclear.In this study,a model of intracerebral hemorrhage was produced by injecting 50μL autologous blood into the caudate nucleus in Wistar rats.Acupuncture at Baihui(DU20)and Qubin(GB7)acupoints was performed at a depth of 1.0 inch,12 hours after blood injection,once every 24 hours.The needle was rotated at 200 r/min for 5 minutes,For each 30-minute session,needling at 200 r/min was performed for three sessions,each lasting 5 minutes.For the positive control group,at 6 hours,and 1,2,3 and 7 days after induction of hemorrhage,the rats were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL aniracetam(0.75 mg/mL),three times a day.The Bederson behavioral test was used to assess palsy in the contralateral limbs.Western blot assay was used to examine the expression levels of Nestin and basic fibroblast growth factor in the basal ganglia.Immunohistochemistry was performed to count the number of Nestin-and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-positive cells in the basal ganglia.Acupuncture effectively reduced hemorrhage and brain edema,elevated the expression levels of Nestin and basic fibroblast growth factor in the basal ganglia,and increased the number of Nestin-and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-positive cells in the basal ganglia.Together,these findings suggest that acupuncture promotes functional recovery after cerebral hemorrhage by increasing the expression of neurotrophic factors.The study was approved by the Committee for Experimental Animals of Heilongjiang Medical Laboratory Animal Center(approval No.2017061001)on June 10,2017.
基金supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation,No. 16-15-00010 (to RRI)funded by government assignment for FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS
文摘Post-traumatic spinal cord remodeling includes both degenerating and regenerating processes,which affect the potency of the functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI).Gene therapy for spinal cord injury is proposed as a promising therapeutic strategy to induce positive changes in remodeling of the affected neural tissue.In our previous studies for delivering the therapeutic genes at the site of spinal cord injury,we developed a new approach using an autologous leucoconcentrate transduced ex vivo with chimeric adenoviruses(Ad5/35)carrying recombinant cDNA.In the present study,the efficacy of the intravenous infusion of an autologous genetically-enriched leucoconcentrate simultaneously producing recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),and neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM)was evaluated with regard to the molecular and cellular changes in remodeling of the spinal cord tissue at the site of damage in a model of mini-pigs with moderate spinal cord injury.Experimental animals were randomly divided into two groups of 4 pigs each:the therapeutic(infused with the leucoconcentrate simultaneously transduced with a combination of the three chimeric adenoviral vectors Ad5/35‐VEGF165,Ad5/35‐GDNF,and Ad5/35‐NCAM1)and control groups(infused with intact leucoconcentrate).The morphometric and immunofluorescence analysis of the spinal cord regeneration in the rostral and caudal segments according to the epicenter of the injury in the treated animals compared to the control mini-pigs showed:(1)higher sparing of the grey matter and increased survivability of the spinal cord cells(lower number of Caspase-3-positive cells and decreased expression of Hsp27);(2)recovery of synaptophysin expression;(3)prevention of astrogliosis(lower area of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1-positive microglial cells);(4)higher growth rates of regeneratingβIII-tubulin-positive axons accompanied by a higher number of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2-positive oligodendroglial cells in the lateral corticospinal tract region.These results revealed the efficacy of intravenous infusion of the autologous genetically-enriched leucoconcentrate producing recombinant VEGF,GDNF,and NCAM in the acute phase of spinal cord injury on the positive changes in the post-traumatic remodeling nervous tissue at the site of direct injury.Our data provide a solid platform for a new ex vivo gene therapy for spinal cord injury and will facilitate further translation of regenerative therapies in clinical neurology.
文摘Type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors,encompassing selegiline,rasagiline,and safinamide,are available to treat Parkinson's disease.These drugs ameliorate motor symptoms and improve motor fluctuation in the advanced stages of the disease.There is also evidence suppo rting the benefit of type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease,such as mood deflection,cognitive impairment,sleep disturbances,and fatigue.Preclinical studies indicate that type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors hold a strong neuroprotective potential in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases for reducing oxidative stress and stimulating the production and release of neurotrophic factors,particularly glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,which suppo rt dopaminergic neurons.Besides,safinamide may interfere with neurodegenerative mechanisms,countera cting excessive glutamate overdrive in basal ganglia motor circuit and reducing death from excitotoxicity.Due to the dual mechanism of action,the new generation of type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitors,including safinamide,is gaining interest in other neurological pathologies,and many supporting preclinical studies are now available.The potential fields of application concern epilepsy,Duchenne muscular dystrophy,multiple scle rosis,and above all,ischemic brain injury.The purpose of this review is to investigate the preclinical and clinical pharmacology of selegiline,rasagiline,and safinamide in Parkinson's disease and beyond,focusing on possible future therapeutic applications.
文摘Parkinson’s disease is the most common movement disorder,affecting about 1%of the population over the age of 60 years.Parkinson’s disease is characterized clinically by resting tremor,bradykinesia,rigidity and postural instability,as a result of the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.In addition to this neuronal cell loss,Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates,Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites,composed primarily of the proteinα-synuclein.Although it was first described almost 200 years ago,there are no disease-modifying drugs to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease.In addition to conventional therapies,non-pharmacological treatment strategies are under investigation in patients and animal models of neurodegenerative disorders.Among such strategies,environmental enrichment,comprising physical exercise,cognitive stimulus,and social interactions,has been assessed in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease.Environmental enrichment can cause structural and functional changes in the brain and promote neurogenesis and dendritic growth by modifying gene expression,enhancing the expression of neurotrophic factors and modulating neurotransmission.In this review article,we focus on the current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental enrichment neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease,highlighting its influence on the dopaminergic,cholinergic,glutamatergic and GABAergic systems,as well as the involvement of neurotrophic factors.We describe experimental pre-clinical data showing how environmental enrichment can act as a modulator in a neurochemical and behavioral context in different animal models of Parkinson’s disease,highlighting the potential of environmental enrichment as an additional strategy in the management and prevention of this complex disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos. 81971006 (to DSG), 82101263 (to CXT)Jiangsu Province Science Foundation for Youths,No. BK20210903 (to CXT)+2 种基金Research Foundation for Talented Scholars of Xuzhou Medical University,No. RC20552114 (to CXT)Science&Technology Program of Xuzhou,No. KC19016 (to JC)Project of Xuzhou Medical University,No. 2018KJ06 (to JC)。
文摘Studies have found that the absence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor may be the primary risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. However, there have not been any studies conducted on the potential relationship between glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive performance in Parkinson’s disease. We first performed a retrospective case-control study at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between September 2018 and January 2020 and found that a decreased serum level of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor was a risk factor for cognitive disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease. We then established a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and analyzed the potential relationships among glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex, dopamine transmission, and cognitive function. Our results showed that decreased glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex weakened dopamine release and transmission by upregulating the presynaptic membrane expression of the dopamine transporter, which led to the loss and primitivization of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons and cognitive impairment. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging data showed that the long-term lack of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor reduced the connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions, and exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor significantly improved this connectivity. These findings suggested that decreased glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex leads to neuroplastic degeneration at the level of synaptic connections and circuits, which results in cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
基金supported by the Health Commission of Hubei Province Medical Leading Talent Project,No.LJ20200405(to AXY)。
文摘Neuroma formation after peripheral nerve transection often leads to severe neuropathic pain.Regenerative peripheral nerve interface has been shown to reduce painful neuroma in the clinic.However,no reports have investigated the underlying mechanisms,and no comparative animal studies on regenerative peripheral nerve interface and other means of neuroma prevention have been conducted to date.In this study,we established a rat model of left sciatic nerve transfection,and subsequently interfered with the model using the regenerative peripheral nerve interface or proximal nerve stump implantation inside a fully innervated muscle.Results showed that,compared with rats subjected to nerve stump implantation inside the muscle,rats subjected to regenerative peripheral nerve interface intervention showed greater inhibition of the proliferation of collagenous fibers and irregular regenerated axons,lower expressions of the fibrosis markerα-smooth muscle actin and the inflammatory marker sigma-1 receptor in the proximal nerve stump,lower autophagy behaviors,lower expressions of c-fos and substance P,higher expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia.These findings suggested that regenerative peripheral nerve interface inhibits peripheral nerve injury-induced neuroma formation and neuropathic pain possibly via the upregulation of the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the dorsal root ganglia and reducing neuroinflammation in the nerve stump.
基金funded by the NIH Grant 1R15AG022908-01A2 and the Western Michigan University(to JMS)。
文摘Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerve lesions,especially lesions with large(≥3 cm)nerve gaps,is the use of a nerve autograft or reimplantation in cases where nerve root avulsions occur.If not tended early,degeneration of motor neurons and loss of axon regeneration can occur,leading to loss of function.Although surgical procedures exist,patients often do not fully recover,and quality of life deteriorates.Peripheral nerves have limited regeneration,and it is usually mediated by Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors,like glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,as seen in Wallerian degeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is a neurotrophic factor known to promote motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is upregulated in different forms of nerve injuries like axotomy,sciatic nerve crush,and compression,thus creating great interest to explore this protein as a potential treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.Exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor has shown positive effects in regeneration and functional recovery when applied in experimental models of peripheral nerve injuries.In this review,we discuss the mechanism of repair provided by Schwann cells and upregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,the latest findings on the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in different types of peripheral nerve injuries,delivery systems,and complementary treatments(electrical muscle stimulation and exercise).Understanding and overcoming the challenges of proper timing and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor delivery is paramount to creating novel treatments to tend to peripheral nerve injuries to improve patients'quality of life.
基金BRACE-Dementia Research,UK(ERK)Alzheimer’s Research UKthe Northcott Devon Medical Foundation(to JAC and ERK)for financial support。
文摘The neurotrophic signaling of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)with its canonical receptor,the receptor tyrosine kinase RET,coupled together with the GDNF family receptor alpha 1 is important for dopaminergic neuron survival and physiology in cell culture experiments and animal models.This prompted the idea to try GDNF/RET signaling as a therapeutic approach to treat Parkinson’s disease with the hallmark of dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra of the midbrain.Despite several clinical trials with GDNF in Parkinson’s disease patients,which mainly focused on optimizing the GDNF delivery technique,benefits were only seen in a few patients.In general,the endpoints did not show significant improvements.This suggests that it will be helpful to learn more about the basic biology of this fascinating but complicated GDNF/RET signaling system in the dopaminergic midbrain and about recent developments in the field to facilitate its use in the clinic.Here we will refer to the latest publications and point out important open questions in the field.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81603706)。
文摘Objective:To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy,glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control,sham-operated,facial nerve injury(FNI),EA,EA+3-methyladenine(3-MA),and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table,with 12 rats in each group.An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method.EA intervention was conducted at Dicang(ST 4),Jiache(ST 6),Yifeng(SJ 17),and Hegu(LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks.The Simone’s 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function.The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.The levels of Beclin-1,light chain 3(LC3),and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC),immunofluorescence,and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction,respectively.Additionally,IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF,Rai,PI3K,and mTOR.Results:The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths,which were destroyed immediately after the injury,were recovered with EA treatment.The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats(P<0.01);however,EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes(P<0.01).Meanwhile,EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF,Rai,PI3K,and mTOR(P<0.01).After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist,the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions:EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI.EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF,activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway,and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81973267)Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.LD19H300001).
文摘Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF),a disease-modifying drug for Parkinson’s disease(PD)is in Phase 2 clinical trials(EudraCT number:2011-003866-34),however it is administered by direct intrastriatal delivery via stereotaxy,which is accompanied with intracranial infection,brain tissue damage,and other complications.In addition,because of complex administration routes,clinical trials of GDNF have yielded contrary results,largely due to differences in dose and concentration brought by intracranial device.Herein,a small molecular agonist SC79 was screened to open blood-brain barrier(BBB)and promote GDNF liposomes to get into brain.SC79 reversibly reduces the expression of claudin-5,one of dominant tight junctions of BBB.Animal study showed SC79 promoted liposomes to enter into brain parenchyma 2.43 times more than that of the control.Motor deficits of PD mice receiving SC79 and brain-targeted GDNF liposomes were recovered by 36.70%and tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in striatum were restored by 39.90%.Our combination therapy effectively avoids the side effects such as secondary infection and uneven delivery caused by intracranial injection,improving patients’compliance and providing valuable research ideas for the clinic.
