药物及靶向治疗在脊髓损伤中的治疗新进展

脊髓损伤(spinalcordinjury,SCI)是一种严重的损伤,它对患者的影响是相当持久的,SCI治疗的难点主要是由于损伤后脊髓中的微环境不利于神经细胞的再生、轴突的生长和新突触的形成,从而影响了脊髓组织的修复。现在SCI治疗的策略就是要改善损伤脊髓微环境,减少不利因素,从而促进脊髓结构修复和功能重建。本研究综述近年来逐渐发展起来的药物及靶向治疗方法,为SCI的新治疗提供参考依据,真正提高患者的生活质量。     

生长因子修复脊髓损伤的疗效及其机制

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)是神经系统最严重的创伤之一,其所造成的高致残率和严重并发症,给个人、家庭和社会均造成巨大负担。脊髓损伤后,由于原发性损伤和继发性损伤等一系列病理变化,使轴突再生和受损神经元的重塑变得非常困难,其中微环境的紊乱是导致二次损伤恢复的主要障碍。脊髓损伤治疗的药物选择对于其预后有较大影响。其中,生长因子(growth factors,GFs)在中枢神经系统发育与损伤修复中具有重要的调控作用。目前,利用GFs干预治疗锯齿动物SCI后的结构和功能恢复方面,包括神经发生、轴突生长、神经保护和再生,促进血管生成、组织修复、保护内源性神经干细胞等方面已取得较为满意的效果,为SCI的临床治疗提供了良好的应用前景。随着对GFs的研究深入,单一的GFs难以满足脊髓损伤后复杂的生理病理变化。因此,探索多种GFs的联合应用以期达到协同的神经再生和功能恢复,是目前治疗SCI的重要策略之一。由于GFs是大分子蛋白质类药物,存在半衰期短,以及原位注射在损伤部位易流失等缺点限制了GFs的临床应用。因此,很多研究将GFs结合不同生物材料治疗SCI,以此克服GFs本身的缺陷,并进一步延长该类药物的修复效果。本综述归纳总结了几种典型的GFs对SCI修复的研究进展和可能的作用机制,并展望不同的生物材料结合GFs提高SCI修复效果的未来发展前景。     

免疫细胞在脊髓损伤后炎性微环境中的作用

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury, SCI)的治疗和康复一直是临床医学领域的重大难题。现代医学虽然显著提高了脊髓损伤患者的存活率,然而在改善患者损伤神经功能方面进展甚微,其原因主要在于脊髓损伤后复杂的病理生理变化。在脊髓损伤的病理过程中,原发性损伤对脊髓神经结构的伤害难以逆转,因此目前国内外研究治疗脊髓损伤的方法主要围绕减轻继发性损伤和促进再生来开展。SCI后炎症反应始终存在,这与免疫细胞在炎症反应的不同时间、不同损伤部位发挥不同作用密切相关。该文就免疫细胞在SCI后炎症微环境中的作用做一简要综述。     

硫化氢与脊髓损伤治疗

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)是一种由于脊髓外部损伤或内部病变引起的暂时性或永久性的功能损伤,其症状包括肌肉功能损伤、自主运动功能减退或丧失等。目前,流行病学调查发现,我国SCI患病率较高,具有较高的社会和医疗负担。因此,合理引导SCI病人进行治疗和康复尤为重要。硫化氢（hydrogen sulfide,H2S）是一种重要的神经信号分子,近年来H2S对SCI康复的作用机制逐渐成为研究热点,例如一些国内外研究团队对SCI后缺血-再灌注损伤（ischemia reperfusion injury,I/R injury）、降低SCI后氧化应激及抗炎作用等机制,以及SCI康复临床治疗研究均取得了一定的成果。本文通过H2S对SCI康复的机制研究和临床治疗发展进行综述,旨在为后续研究及临床应用提供参考。     

硫化氢与脊髓损伤治疗

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)是一种由于脊髓外部损伤或内部病变引起的暂时性或永久性的功能损伤,其症状包括肌肉功能损伤、自主运动功能减退或丧失等。目前,流行病学调查发现,我国SCI患病率较高,具有较高的社会和医疗负担。因此,合理引导SCI病人进行治疗和康复尤为重要。硫化氢（hydrogen sulfide,H2S）是一种重要的神经信号分子,近年来H2S对SCI康复的作用机制逐渐成为研究热点,例如一些国内外研究团队对SCI后缺血-再灌注损伤（ischemia reperfusion injury,I/R injury）、降低SCI后氧化应激及抗炎作用等机制,以及SCI康复临床治疗研究均取得了一定的成果。本文通过H2S对SCI康复的机制研究和临床治疗发展进行综述,旨在为后续研究及临床应用提供参考。     

脊柱骨折合并脊髓损伤患者血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平与术后预后不良的关系研究

摘要 目的：研究脊柱骨折合并脊髓损伤（SCI）患者血清神经突起因子（Neuritin）、神经丝轻链（NFL）、S100B蛋白水平与术后预后不良的关系。方法：将从2018年12月-2019年12月我院收治的60例脊柱骨折合并SCI患者纳入研究,记作损伤组,另取同期我院收治的单纯脊柱骨折未合并SCI患者60例作为无损伤组,再取同期体检的健康志愿者60例作为对照组。检测并比较三组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平。此外,将损伤组患者按照术后预后的不同分作预后不良组25例和预后良好组35例,分析两组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平以及临床资料的差异,并以多因素Logistic回归分析明确脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良和各项影响因素的关系。通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线明确血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平联合检测预测脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的效能。结果：损伤组及无损伤组血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平均明显高于对照组,且损伤组上述三项血清学指标水平均高于无损伤组（均P＜0.05）。预后不良组椎管侵占率高于预后良好组,且血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平均高于预后良好组（均P＜0.05）。经多因素Logistic回归分析可得：椎管侵占率以及血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平较高均是脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）。血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平联合检测预测脊柱骨折合并SCI患者预后不良的曲线下面积、灵敏度、特异度、约登指数均高于上述三项指标单独检测。结论：脊柱骨折合并SCI患者血清Neuritin、NFL、S100B蛋白水平较高,且随着上述三项血清学指标水平的升高,患者预后不良风险更高。     

脊髓损伤炎症中的NF-кB信号通路

脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)是脊柱损伤最严重的并发症,致残率极高,不仅导致患者损伤节段以下肢体严重的功能障碍,同时也给整个社会造成巨大的经济负担。SCI后,中性粒细胞、巨噬细胞和T细胞等共同介导炎症反应,而核因子κB(NF-κB)通路是介导脊髓损伤后炎症反应的核心。NF-κB最早于1986年发现,其能与免疫球蛋白κ轻链基因增强子特异性结合。后续研究发现,其能与多种基因启动子部位的κB点发生特异性结合促进转录,是一类核因子DNA结合蛋白质的总称。NF-κB能够和许多基因启动子区域的固定核苷酸序列结合而启动基因转录。在机体的免疫应答、炎症反应及细胞的生长调控等方面发挥重要作用。大量研究证实,与SCI炎症密切相关的炎症细胞因子(IL-1、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10等)、黏附分子(ICAM-1、VCAM-1、E选择素等)及趋化因子(CCL2、CCL3、CXCL8等)的基因启动部位均含有κB位点。SCI后,NF-κB信号通路被异常激活,大量炎症、趋化、黏附因子释放,加重SCI继发性炎症反应。因此,NF-κB在SCI病程中发挥的作用受到广泛重视。本文主要综述NF-кB的特性和其在脊髓损伤炎症中的研究进展和治疗前景,为后续SCI的炎症靶向治疗提供理论依据。     

铁死亡参与脊髓损伤调控的研究进展

铁死亡是一种铁依赖性的,以细胞内脂质活性氧堆积为特征的细胞程序性死亡方式。广泛存在于肿瘤、癌症、急性肾损伤等多种疾病当中。脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury, SCI) 是一种严重的创伤性神经系统疾病,具有高发病率、高死亡率、高致残率的特点。目前,脊髓损伤的具体发生机制及高效治疗方法仍在探索当中,这也是亟待解决的世界性难题。研究表明,脊髓损伤后调控神经细胞的程序性死亡是治疗SCI的重点。然而,对于铁死亡参与脊髓损伤的分子生物学机制尚缺乏系统和深入的认识。收集和整理了近几年国内外有关脊髓损伤后铁死亡方面的相关文献,针对铁死亡参与脊髓损伤的调控机制和研究进展进行了综述,以期为治疗脊髓损伤带来新的思路。     

脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的防治概况

脊髓缺血-再灌注损伤(SCII)是一种严重的神经系统损伤,是缺血脊髓组织恢复血液灌注后,脊髓组织的损伤反而加重,表现为其神经损害体征和形态学改变较前更加明显,其发生机制是多因素的综合结果,治疗措施也具有多样性,脊髓缺血后脊髓微血管结构及功能的破坏和脊髓水肿等是脊髓功能损害的主要诱因,至今为止,脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的防治主要有药物及物理治疗等方法,本文作者通过查阅中外文献对脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的特征、发生机制及防治措施作一综述,希望对研究脊髓缺血再灌注损伤防治的学者能有所帮助。     

脊髓损伤中RhoA/ROCK通路的作用机制研究

脊髓损伤是一种严重的中枢神经系统损伤,常导致患者瘫痪或死亡,预后差。脊髓损伤主要包括机械损伤和继发性损伤两个过程。在继发性损伤过程中,多种信号通路被激活,在脊髓损伤的发病机制中起重要作用,其中,RhoA/Rho信号通路在脊髓变性和再生中起着特殊的作用。本文讨论RhoA/Rho激酶信号介导的脊髓发病机制,以及针对RhoA/ROCK通路靶向药物的治疗进展。     

Calibrated Forceps Model of Spinal Cord Compression Injury

Compression injuries of the murine spinal cord are valuable animal models for the study of spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal regenerative therapy. The calibrated forceps model of compression injury is a convenient, low cost, and very reproducible animal model for SCI. We used a pair of modified forceps in accordance with the method published by Plemel et al. (2008) to laterally compress the spinal cord to a distance of 0.35 mm. In this video, we will demonstrate a dorsal laminectomy to expose the spinal cord, followed by compression of the spinal cord with the modified forceps. In the video, we will also address issues related to the care of paraplegic laboratory animals. This injury model produces mice that exhibit impairment in sensation, as well as impaired hindlimb locomotor function. Furthermore, this method of injury produces consistent aberrations in the pathology of the SCI, as determined by immunohistochemical methods. After watching this video, viewers should be able to determine the necessary supplies and methods for producing SCI of various severities in the mouse for studies on SCI and/or treatments designed to mitigate impairment after injury.     

Effects of autophagy on acid-sensing ion channel 1a-mediated apoptosis in rat articular chondrocytes

The incidence of spinal cord injuries (SCI) is high every year. As the spinal cord is the highway that allows for the brain to control the rest of the body, spinal cord injuries greatly impact the quality of life of the patients. The SCI include the primary response consisting of the initial accident-induced damage and the secondary response that is characterized by damage due to inflammation and biological responses. Astrocytes are the first to act at the site of the injury, forming a glial scar and attracting immune cells. The immune system plays a role in cleaning out the debris caused by the injury, as well as preventing neurons to grow and heal. The secondary injury caused by the inflammatory response is the major target to combat SCI. This article critically reviews the key players in the inflammatory SCI response and potential therapies, specifically targeting astrocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. These cells are both beneficial and detrimental following SCI, depending on the released molecules and the types of cells infiltrated to the site of injury. Indeed, depending on the subtype of macrophages, M1 or M2, beneficial or detrimental response could be incited. Therapeutic strategies to regulate and manipulate the immune cells via increasing or decreasing their recruitment to the site of injury could be developed together with upregulating and downregulating the release of certain chemicals from the infiltrated cells.     

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid alleviates secondary injury in the spinal cord via up-regulation of CIBZ gene

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is generally divided into primary and secondary injuries, and apoptosis is an important event of the secondary injury. As an endogenous bile acid and recognized endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) administration has been reported to have a potentially therapeutic effect on neurodegenerative diseases, but its real mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated whether TUDCA could alleviate traumatic damage of the spinal cord and improve locomotion function in a mouse model of SCI. Traumatic SCI mice were intraperitoneally injected with TUDCA, and the effects were evaluated based on motor function assessment, histopathology, apoptosis detection, qRT-PCR, and western blot at different time periods. TUDCA administration can improve motor function and reduce secondary injury and lesion area after SCI. Furthermore, the apoptotic ratios were significantly reduced; Grp78, Erdj4, and CHOP were attenuated by the treatment. Unexpectedly, the levels of CIBZ, a novel therapeutic target for SCI, were specifically up-regulated. Taken together, it is suggested that TUDCA effectively suppressed ER stress through targeted up-regulation of CIBZ. This study also provides a new strategy for relieving secondary damage by inhibiting apoptosis in the early treatment of spinal cord injury.     

Characterization and modeling of monocyte-derived macrophages after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits a neuroinflammatory reaction dominated by microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Because MDM do not infiltrate the spinal cord until days after injury, it may be possible to control whether they differentiate into neuroprotective or neurotoxic effector cells. However, doing so will require better understanding of the factors controlling MDM differentiation and activation. Our goal was to develop an in vitro model of MDM that is relevant in the context of SCI. This tool would allow future studies to define mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways that are associated with MDM-mediated neuroprotection or neurotoxicity. We first characterized SCI-induced cytokine expression in MDM using laser capture microdissection and real-time PCR. Based on this data, we assessed which easily procurable primary macrophage subset would mimic this phenotype in vitro. We established the baseline and inductive potential of resident peritoneal, thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) at the molecular, cellular and functional level. Of these cells, only BMDM retained the phenotypic, molecular and functional characteristics of MDM that infiltrate the injured spinal cord. Thus, peripheral macrophages should not be used interchangeably in vitro to model the functional consequences of the MDM response elicited by SCI.     

A Contusive Model of Unilateral Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Using the Infinite Horizon Impactor

While the majority of human spinal cord injuries occur in the cervical spinal cord, the vast majority of laboratory research employs animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI) in which the thoracic spinal cord is injured. Additionally, because most human cord injuries occur as the result of blunt, non-penetrating trauma (e.g. motor vehicle accident, sporting injury) where the spinal cord is violently struck by displaced bone or soft tissues, the majority of SCI researchers are of the opinion that the most clinically relevant injury models are those in which the spinal cord is rapidly contused.¹ Therefore, an important step in the preclinical evaluation of novel treatments on their way to human translation is an assessment of their efficacy in a model of contusion SCI within the cervical spinal cord. Here, we describe the technical aspects and resultant anatomical and behavioral outcomes of an unilateral contusive model of cervical SCI that employs the Infinite Horizon spinal cord injury impactor.Sprague Dawley rats underwent a left-sided unilateral laminectomy at C5. To optimize the reproducibility of the biomechanical, functional, and histological outcomes of the injury model, we contused the spinal cords using an impact force of 150 kdyn, an impact trajectory of 22.5° (animals rotated at 22.5°), and an impact location off of midline of 1.4 mm. Functional recovery was assessed using the cylinder rearing test, horizontal ladder test, grooming test and modified Montoya''s staircase test for up to 6 weeks, after which the spinal cords were evaluated histologically for white and grey matter sparing.The injury model presented here imparts consistent and reproducible biomechanical forces to the spinal cord, an important feature of any experimental SCI model. This results in discrete histological damage to the lateral half of the spinal cord which is largely contained to the ipsilateral side of injury. The injury is well tolerated by the animals, but does result in functional deficits of the forelimb that are significant and sustained in the weeks following injury. The cervical unilateral injury model presented here may be a resource to researchers who wish to evaluate potentially promising therapies prior to human translation.     

WJSC 6th Anniversary Special Issues（2）:Mesenchymal stem cells Mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injuries:A review

With technological advances in basic research,the intricate mechanism of secondary delayed spinal cord injury(SCI)continues to unravel at a rapid pace.However,despite our deeper understanding of the molecular changes occurring after initial insult to the spinal cord,the cure for paralysis remains elusive.Current treatment of SCI is limited to early administration of high dose steroids to mitigate the harmful effect of cord edema that occurs after SCI and to reduce the cascade of secondary delayed SCI.R ecent evident-based clinical studies have cast doubt on the clinical benefit of steroids in SCI and intense focus on stem cell-based therapy has yielded some encouraging results.An array of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from various sources with novel and promising strategies are being developed to improve function after SCI.In this review,we briefly discuss the pathophysiology of spinal cord injuries and characteristics and the potential sources of MSCs that can be used in the treatment of SCI.We will discuss the progress of MSCs application in research,focusing on the neuroprotective properties of MSCs.Finally,we will discuss the results from preclinical and clinical trials involving stem cell-based therapy in SCI.     

Glial and axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been regarded clinically as an irreversible damage caused by tissue contusion due to a blunt external force. Past research had focused on the analysis of the pathogenesis of secondary injury that extends from the injury epicenter to the periphery, as well as tissue damage and neural cell death associated with secondary injury. Recent studies, however, have proven that neural stem (progenitor) cells are also present in the brain and spinal cord of adult mammals including humans. Analyses using spinal cord injury models have also demonstrated active dynamics of cells expressing several stem cell markers, and methods aiming at functional reconstruction by promoting the potential self-regeneration capacity of the spinal cord are being explored. Furthermore, reconstruction of the neural circuit requires not only replenishment or regeneration of neural cells but also regeneration of axons. Analysis of the tissue microenvironment after spinal cord injury and research aiming to remove axonal regeneration inhibitors have also made progress. SCI is one of the simplest central nervous injuries, but its pathogenesis is associated with diverse factors, and further studies are required to elucidate these complex interactions in order to achieve spinal cord regeneration and functional reconstruction.     

WJSC 6th Anniversary Special Issues（2）:Mesenchymal stem cells Neurotrauma and mesenchymal stem cells treatment:From experimental studies to clinical trials

Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)therapy has attracted the attention of scientists and clinicians around the world.Basic and pre-clinical experimental studies have highlighted the positive effects of MSC treatment after spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury.These effects are believed to be due to their ability to differentiate into other cell lineages,modulate inflammatory and immunomodulatory responses,reduce cell apoptosis,secrete several neurotrophic factors and respond to tissue injury,among others.There are many pre-clinical studies on MSC treatment for spinal cord injury(SCI)and peripheral nerve injuries.However,the same is not true for clinical trials,particularly those concerned with nerve trauma,indicating the necessity of more well-constructed studies showing the benefits that cell therapy can provide for individuals suffering the consequences of nerve lesions.As for clinical trials for SCI treatment the results obtained so far are not as beneficial as those described in experimental studies.For these reasons basic and pre-clinical studies dealing with MSC therapy should emphasize the standardization of protocols that could be translated to the clinical set with consistent and positive outcomes.This review is based on pre-clinical studies and clinical trials available in the literature from 2010 until now.At the time of writing this article there were 43 and 36 pre-clinical and 19 and 1 clinical trials on injured spinal cord and peripheral nerves,respectively.