Combinatorial lentiviral gene delivery of pro-oligodendrogenic factors for improving myelination of regenerating axons after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in paralysis below the injury and strategies are being developed that support axonal regrowth, yet recovery lags, in part, because many axons are not remyelinated. Herein, we investigated strategies to increase myelination of regenerating axons by overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA and noggin either alone or in combination in a mouse SCI model. Noggin and PDGF-AA have been identified as factors that enhance recruitment and differentiation of endogenous progenitors to promote myelination. Lentivirus encoding for these factors was delivered from a multichannel bridge, which we have previously shown creates a permissive environment and supports robust axonal growth through channels. The combination of noggin+PDGF enhanced total myelination of regenerating axons relative to either factor alone, and importantly, enhanced functional recovery relative to the control condition. The increase in myelination was consistent with an increase in oligodendrocyte-derived myelin, which was also associated with a greater density of cells of an oligodendroglial lineage relative to each factor individually and control conditions. These results suggest enhanced myelination of regenerating axons by noggin+PDGF that act on oligodendrocyte-lineage cells post-SCI, which ultimately led to improved functional outcomes.     

参芎葡萄糖注射液联合脑蛋白水解物治疗急性脑梗塞的疗效及对神经功能缺损和血液流变学的影响

目的:探析参芎葡萄糖注射液与脑蛋白水解物联合治疗急性脑梗塞患者的临床疗效和对神经功能、血液流变学的影响。方法:入选急性脑梗患者130例,随机分为两组各65例。对照组在常规治疗基础上使用脑蛋白水解物治疗,治疗组在常规治疗基础上不仅使用脑蛋白水解物,还加用参芎葡萄糖注射液治疗,比较两组患者的临床效果、神经功能缺损评分改变和血液流变学情况。结果:治疗组有效率显著高于对照组(P0.05);神经功能缺损评分治疗后均有下降,但治疗组下降幅度更大(P0.05);治疗组红细胞压积、血小板聚集率和纤维蛋白原均显著下降(P0.05),且同期相比,治疗组纤维蛋白原和红细胞压积下降幅度显著优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:参芎葡萄糖注射液与脑蛋白水解物联合治疗急性脑梗塞患者疗效确切,安全可靠,值得临床推广。     

担载神经生长因子(NGF)的乳液法涂层纤维体外缓释研究

目的:目前周围神经修复中,神经导管是研究热点,本文研究乳液法涂层纤维制备的神经导管在神经修复中应用的可能性。方法:本文采用乳液法制备担载NGF的丝素-聚乳酸(PLLA)涂层电纺纤维,观察纤维的形态,测定NGF的体外释放动力学参数,并考察纤维释放液对于PC12细胞增殖的影响。结果:担载NGF的涂层纤维具备类似于细胞外基质(ECM)的三维结构和多孔形态;涂层纤维中NGF体外有效缓释10天;细胞实验中,在含有释放液的培养基中生长的PC12细胞,与空白对照组相比,荧光强度平均多了2000-4000个荧光强度,所以释放液可以更好地促进PC12细胞的增殖。结论:担载NGF的乳液法涂层纺丝纤维具备促进缺损周围神经修复的条件,可以进一步研究在动物体内修复缺损周围神经中的效果,为以后的临床应用打下基础。     

脑弥漫性轴索损伤的MRI征象及与GCS计分及预后的关系

目的：探讨脑弥漫性轴索损伤（DAI）的磁共振成像（MRI）征象及其与格拉斯哥昏迷量表评分（GCS）计分和预后的关系。方 法：回顾性分析2012 年1 月-2014 年7 月我院收集的30 例DAI 患者的临床病历资料,根据病灶累及部位分析其与GCS 计分和 临床预后的关系。结果：30 例患者共53 个病灶,17例多发病灶,13 例单发病灶;42 个病灶T1WI显示出低信号或者是等信号,11 个病灶T1WI显示为高信号;T2WI显示为高信号,FLAIR 序列以及弥散加权像（DWI）上表现出的信号更高,范围更清晰;病灶形 态呈条索状27 例,斑片状11 例,卵圆形8 例,不规则斑点状7 例;病灶未累及脑中线部位的患者临床预后优于病灶累及脑中线 部位的患者,差异有统计学意义（Z=-2.636,P=0.008）,病灶累及脑中线部位的患者GCS 计分情况比未累及组严重,计分更低,差 异有统计学意义（Z=-2.519,P=0.012）。结论：DAI病灶累及脑中线部位的患者GCS计分较低、预后差,MRI检查是诊断DAI 首选 的影像学方法,临床有重要的参考价值。     

A Cytotoxic,Co-operative Interaction Between Energy Deprivation and Glutamate Release From System xc? Mediates Aglycemic Neuronal Cell Death

The astrocyte cystine/glutamate antiporter (system x_c⁻) contributes substantially to the excitotoxic neuronal cell death facilitated by glucose deprivation. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism by which this occurred. Using pure astrocyte cultures, as well as, mixed cortical cell cultures containing both neurons and astrocytes, we found that neither an enhancement in system x_c⁻ expression nor activity underlies the excitotoxic effects of aglycemia. In addition, using three separate bioassays, we demonstrate no change in the ability of glucose-deprived astrocytes—either cultured alone or with neurons—to remove glutamate from the extracellular space. Instead, we demonstrate that glucose-deprived cultures are 2 to 3 times more sensitive to the killing effects of glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate when compared with their glucose-containing controls. Hence, our results are consistent with the weak excitotoxic hypothesis such that a bioenergetic deficiency, which is measureable in our mixed but not astrocyte cultures, allows normally innocuous concentrations of glutamate to become excitotoxic. Adding to the burgeoning literature detailing the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal injury, we conclude that under our experimental paradigm, a cytotoxic, co-operative interaction between energy deprivation and glutamate release from astrocyte system x_c⁻ mediates aglycemic neuronal cell death.     

Exosomes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells,a New Therapeutic Strategy for Cardiovascular Diseases?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still a major cause of people deaths worldwide, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation holds great promise due to its capacity to differentiate into cardiovascular cells and secrete protective cytokines, which presents an important mechanism of MSCs therapy for CVDs. Although the capability of MSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes (CMCs), endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been well recognized in massive previous experiments both in vitro and in vivo, low survival rate of transplanted MSCs in recipient hearts suggests that therapeutic effects of MSCs transplantation might be also correlated with other underlying mechanisms. Notably, recent studies uncovered that MSCs were able to secret cholesterol-rich, phospholipid exosomes which were enriched with microRNAs (miRNAs). The released exosomes from MSCs acted on hearts and vessels, and then exerted anti-apoptosis, cardiac regeneration, anti-cardiac remodeling, anti-inflammatory effects, neovascularization and anti-vascular remodeling, which are considered as novel molecular mechanisms of therapeutic potential of MSCs transplantation. Here we summarized recent advances about the role of exosomes in MSCs therapy for CVDs, and discussed exosomes as a novel approach in the treatment of CVDs in the future.     

Macrophage autophagy protects against liver fibrosis in mice

Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway of cellular components that displays antiinflammatory properties in macrophages. Macrophages are critically involved in chronic liver injury by releasing mediators that promote hepatocyte apoptosis, contribute to inflammatory cell recruitment and activation of hepatic fibrogenic cells. Here, we investigated whether macrophage autophagy may protect against chronic liver injury. Experiments were performed in mice with mutations in the autophagy gene Atg5 in the myeloid lineage (Atg5^fl/fl LysM-Cre mice, referred to as atg5^−/−) and their wild-type (Atg5^fl/fl, referred to as WT) littermates. Liver fibrosis was induced by repeated intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. In vitro studies were performed in cultures or co-cultures of peritoneal macrophages with hepatic myofibroblasts. As compared to WT littermates, atg5^−/− mice exposed to chronic carbon tetrachloride administration displayed higher hepatic levels of IL1A and IL1B and enhanced inflammatory cell recruitment associated with exacerbated liver injury. In addition, atg5^−/− mice were more susceptible to liver fibrosis, as shown by enhanced matrix and fibrogenic cell accumulation. Macrophages from atg5^−/− mice secreted higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced IL1A and IL1B. Moreover, hepatic myofibroblasts exposed to the conditioned medium of macrophages from atg5^−/− mice showed increased profibrogenic gene expression; this effect was blunted when neutralizing IL1A and IL1B in the conditioned medium of atg5^−/− macrophages. Finally, administration of recombinant IL1RN (interleukin 1 receptor antagonist) to carbon tetrachloride-exposed atg5^−/− mice blunted liver injury and fibrosis, identifying IL1A/B as central mediators in the deleterious effects of macrophage autophagy invalidation. These results uncover macrophage autophagy as a novel antiinflammatory pathway regulating liver fibrosis.     

改良PAS染色法在急性肝损伤中的应用

目的：观察改良肝脏糖原PAS染色法,并观察肝脏糖原染色在急性肝损伤中的应用。方法：复制CCl4急性肝损伤模型,首次100％CCl43 mL／kg皮下注射,此后50％CCl4橄榄油溶液2 mL／kg每周2次共4次皮下注射,诱导大鼠急性肝损伤模型。计算大鼠肝体比;HE染色观察肝组织炎症病理;试剂盒检测血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、总胆红素（TBil）、白蛋白（Alb）。肝脏常规PAS染色与改良PAS染色观察肝糖原染色。结果：与正常组相比,模型组ALT、AST活性与TBil含量明显升高（P＜0．05）,Alb含量明显降低（P＜0．05）;HE染色示,模型组肝小叶结构排列紊乱,肝细胞脂肪变、气球样变明显。常规PAS染色,正常组肝组织PAS染色阳性占肝脏面积为32．38％±5．50％;与正常组相比,模型组肝组织PAS阳性染色明显减少（P＜0．01）,占肝脏面积为8．60％±3．34％。改良PAS染色提示,正常组肝脏可见大量PAS阳性染色,占肝脏面积为75．50％±9．02％;与正常组相比,模型组肝组织PAS阳性染色明显减少（P＜0．01）,占肝脏面积为17．61％±3．53％。在空白对照组与模型肝组织中,肝糖原改良PAS染色阳性率明显高于常规PAS染色法（P＜0．01）。改良PAS染色肝糖原阳性染色面积更真实反映急性肝损伤程度。结论：改良肝脏糖原PAS染色法有助于急性肝损伤程度评估。     

Neurite growth acceleration of adult Dorsal Root Ganglion neurons illuminated by low‐level Light Emitting Diode light at 645 nm

The effect of a 645 nm Light Emitting Diode (LED) light irradiation on the neurite growth velocity of adult Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons with peripheral axon injury 4–10 days before plating and without previous injury was investigated. The real amount of light reaching the neurons was calculated by taking into account the optical characteristics of the light source and of media in the light path. The knowledge of these parameters is essential to be able to compare results of the literature and a way to reduce inconsistencies. We found that 4 min irradiation of a mean irradiance of 11.3 mW/cm² (corresponding to an actual irradiance reaching the neurons of 83 mW/cm²) induced a 1.6‐fold neurite growth acceleration on non‐injured neurons and on axotomized neurons. Although the axotomized neurons were naturally already in a rapid regeneration process, an enhancement was found to occur while irradiating with the LED light, which may be promising for therapy applications.

Dorsal Root Ganglion neurons ( A ) without previous injury and ( B ) subjected to a conditioning injury.