Effect of Jiaji electroacupuncture in transected rat spinal cord

We evaluated the effect of Jiaji electroacupuncture on cell proliferation and the expression of markers of endogenous neural stem cell activation after complete spinal cord transection. Female Wistar rats were assigned to 4 groups (n = 24 each): a sham-operated group, a control group, a Jiaji electroacupuncture group, and a Jiaji electroacupuncture preconditioning group. Motor function was significantly improved in the acupuncture groups compared to the control group at 7 and 14 d. Numbers of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-, nestin-, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells were significantly greater in the acupuncture groups than in the controls at each time point. Expression of nestin and GFAP mRNA was significantly higher in the acupuncture groups than in the controls at each time point. Thus, Jiaji electroacupuncture and preconditioning may promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells after spinal cord transection.     

Spinal cord decompression reduces rat neural cell apoptosis secondary to spinal cord injury

Objective: To determine whether spinal cord decompression plays a role in neural cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury. Study design: We used an animal model of compressive spinal cord injury with incomplete paraparesis to evaluate neural cell apoptosis after decompression. Apoptosis and cellular damage were assessed by staining with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and immunostaining for caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. Methods: Experiments were conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=78) weighing 300~400 g. The spinal cord was compressed posteriorly at T10 level using a custom-made screw for 6 h, 24 h or continuously, followed by decompression by removal of the screw. The rats were sacrificed on Day 1 or 3 or in Week 1 or 4 post-decompression. The spinal cord was removed en bloc and examined at lesion site, rostral site and caudal site (7.5 mm away from the lesion). Results: The numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly lower at the site of decompression on Day 1, and also at the rostral and caudal sites between Day 3 and Week 4 post-decompression, compared with the persistently compressed group. The numbers of cells between Day 1 and Week 4 were immunoreactive to caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated X-protein (Bax), but not to Bcl-2, correlated with those of TUNEL-positive cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that decompression reduces neural cell apoptosis following spinal cord injury.     

神经营养因子NT-3神经干细胞移植对帕金森病大鼠功能修复研究

为了研究神经干细胞和神经营养因子NT-3对帕金森病(PD)的修复作用,将NT-3表达载体pEGFP-C1-NT3转染大鼠原代神经干细胞(NSCs),构建了NSCs-NT3细胞.移植入帕金森病模型大鼠脑部MFB和VTA区域,观察到移植细胞在大鼠移植部位生长与迁移,证实移植成功.对移植后疾病模型进行APO旋转实验和水迷宫行为检测,结果表明,NT-3有利于学习与记忆能力改善,分子水平证实移植区域NT-3显著表达.本研究通过移植过表达NT-3的神经干细胞,从分子、细胞、组织和个体行为等不同层面证实了NSCs-NT3对PD模型大鼠修复的积极作用,为PD的转基因神经干细胞移植治疗研究提供了理论与实践依据.     

神经干细胞移植的研究近况

神经干细胞能够再生和自我更新,并可以分化为神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞,因而神经干细胞移植可用于神经变性、脊髓损伤和神经脱髓鞘等疾病的治疗.本文主要总结了神经干细胞移植在帕金森氏病、脱髓鞘症、脊髓损伤、阿耳茨海默氏病和脑中风治疗中的应用.     

神经干细胞及其临床应用潜能

近年来神经干细胞已在成年哺乳动物中的中枢神经系统中分离成功。神经干细胞的最基本特征是具有分化为神经元、星状胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的潜能，具有自我更新能力，并足以维持整个大脑所需。神经干细胞在修复受伤神经组织及治疗神经系统退行性疾病，如帕金森病、阿尔茨海默病、和亨庭顿病等方面有很好的应用前景。但在达到临床实际应用之前仍有一系列问题需要解决，最首要的是搞清神经干细胞的分化机制。     

脉冲磁场对应激大鼠海马神经干细胞增殖的影响

建立大鼠束缚应激模型及脉冲磁场环境，观察应激大鼠在脉冲磁场环境中海马神经千细胞数及增殖变化．实验设对照、应激、磁场、应激磁场4个组，应用免疫组织化学法观察和计算各组海马巢蛋白（Nestin）和溴化脱氧核糖尿嘧啶（BrdU）的阳性细胞数．研究结果显示，Nestin在各组海马CA1和CA2区表达，BrdU在海马齿状回表达．实验各组Nestin和BrdU的阳性细胞比对照组明显增加，应激磁场组增加更显著，而磁场组和应激磁场组则无明显差异．这表明应激能引起大鼠海马神经千细胞内源性增殖，脉冲磁场能显著提高应激大鼠海马神经千细胞的增殖反应，提示在应激脑损伤的基础上，脉冲磁场作为外源性物理因素能刺激神经千细胞增殖，并可能修复受损神经元。     

基因重组碱性成纤维细胞生长因子对大鼠脊髓损伤神经保护作用

目的 :探索碱性成纤维细胞生长因子 (bFGF)对大鼠脊髓损伤的神经保护作用 方法 :将吸入bFGF的胶原蛋白海绵或空白海绵贴敷于大鼠脊髓损伤处 ,术后 1、2、3周 ,对大鼠机能进行评分 ,并对大脑运动皮质进行电镜观察分析 结果 :术后 1、2、3周 ,bFGF组大鼠运动评分均明显优于对照组 (Ρ <0 .0 5) ,运动皮质电镜结果显示bFGF组线粒体、内质网轻度肿胀 ,神经毡结构正常 ,无明显胶质细胞增生 程度较对照组明显减轻 结论 :bFGF对大鼠脊髓受损神经纤维起源脑区—运动皮质的神经细胞具有明显的保护作用 ,进而使大鼠运动功能受损明显减轻     

体育功能锻炼对截瘫患者康复影响及评价分析

目的:探讨体育功能锻炼对截瘫患者后期康复治疗的影响及康复评价.方法:76例在脊髓损伤后出现截瘫患者,进行体育功能锻炼的康复治疗,追踪记录,采用美国脊髓损伤学会(ASIA)脊髓损伤神经功能分类国际标准评价康复效果.结果:经统计,胸腰髓不完全损害者康复锻炼前后ASIA损伤评分运动、感觉评分均有显著意义(P<0.05).胸腰髓完全损伤者运动、感觉ASIA评分好转较明显(P<0.05).结论:体育功能锻炼能帮助截瘫患者后期恢复,显著改善和提高患者的综合功能.     

Embryonic expression of a haematopoietic growth factor encoded by the Sl locus and the ligand for c-kit.

Mice carrying mutations at the W (Dominant white spotting) and Sl (Steel) loci develop abnormalities in three independent systems: neural crest-derived melanocytes, primordial germ cells and haematopoietic stem cells. Consequently, homozygotes of viable mutant alleles have white coats and are sterile and severely anaemic. Tissue recombination studies predict that the W gene is expressed cell autonomously, whereas the product of the Sl locus affects the microenvironment in which the stem cells migrate, proliferate and differentiate. The W locus encodes the protoncogene c-kit, a member of the tyrosine kinase receptor family. The haematopoietic growth factor SCF (stem cell factor) has been identified as the product of the Sl locus and a ligand for c-kit. Here, we report that SCF is expressed during embryogenesis in cells associated with both the migratory pathways and homing sites of melanoblasts, germ cells and haematopoietic stem cells. Both SCF and c-kit are also expressed in a variety of other tissues, including the brain and spinal cord, suggesting that the receptor-ligand system has additional roles in embryogenesis.     

Neurosphere-derived multipotent precursors promote neuroprotection by an immunomodulatory mechanism

In degenerative disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), transplantation of neural multipotent (stem) precursor cells (NPCs) is aimed at replacing damaged neural cells. Here we show that in CNS inflammation, NPCs are able to promote neuroprotection by maintaining undifferentiated features and exerting unexpected immune-like functions. In a mouse model of chronic CNS inflammation, systemically injected adult syngeneic NPCs use constitutively activated integrins and functional chemokine receptors to selectively enter the inflamed CNS. These undifferentiated cells survive repeated episodes of CNS inflammation by accumulating within perivascular areas where reactive astrocytes, inflamed endothelial cells and encephalitogenic T cells produce neurogenic and gliogenic regulators. In perivascular CNS areas, surviving adult NPCs induce apoptosis of blood-borne CNS-infiltrating encephalitogenic T cells, thus protecting against chronic neural tissue loss as well as disease-related disability. These results indicate that undifferentiated adult NPCs have relevant therapeutic potential in chronic inflammatory CNS disorders because they display immune-like functions that promote long-lasting neuroprotection.     

Haematopoietic stem cells do not transdifferentiate into cardiac myocytes in myocardial infarcts

The mammalian heart has a very limited regenerative capacity and, hence, heals by scar formation. Recent reports suggest that haematopoietic stem cells can transdifferentiate into unexpected phenotypes such as skeletal muscle, hepatocytes, epithelial cells, neurons, endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, in response to tissue injury or placement in a new environment. Furthermore, transplanted human hearts contain myocytes derived from extra-cardiac progenitor cells, which may have originated from bone marrow. Although most studies suggest that transdifferentiation is extremely rare under physiological conditions, extensive regeneration of myocardial infarcts was reported recently after direct stem cell injection, prompting several clinical trials. Here, we used both cardiomyocyte-restricted and ubiquitously expressed reporter transgenes to track the fate of haematopoietic stem cells after 145 transplants into normal and injured adult mouse hearts. No transdifferentiation into cardiomyocytes was detectable when using these genetic techniques to follow cell fate, and stem-cell-engrafted hearts showed no overt increase in cardiomyocytes compared to sham-engrafted hearts. These results indicate that haematopoietic stem cells do not readily acquire a cardiac phenotype, and raise a cautionary note for clinical studies of infarct repair.     

Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia

Neuromotor prostheses (NMPs) aim to replace or restore lost motor functions in paralysed humans by routeing movement-related signals from the brain, around damaged parts of the nervous system, to external effectors. To translate preclinical results from intact animals to a clinically useful NMP, movement signals must persist in cortex after spinal cord injury and be engaged by movement intent when sensory inputs and limb movement are long absent. Furthermore, NMPs would require that intention-driven neuronal activity be converted into a control signal that enables useful tasks. Here we show initial results for a tetraplegic human (MN) using a pilot NMP. Neuronal ensemble activity recorded through a 96-microelectrode array implanted in primary motor cortex demonstrated that intended hand motion modulates cortical spiking patterns three years after spinal cord injury. Decoders were created, providing a 'neural cursor' with which MN opened simulated e-mail and operated devices such as a television, even while conversing. Furthermore, MN used neural control to open and close a prosthetic hand, and perform rudimentary actions with a multi-jointed robotic arm. These early results suggest that NMPs based upon intracortical neuronal ensemble spiking activity could provide a valuable new neurotechnology to restore independence for humans with paralysis.     

Studies on repairing of hemisected thoracic spinal cord of adult rats by using a chitosan tube filled with alginate fibers

A chitosan tube filled with alginate fibers was implanted into the injured spinal cord of a rat for repairing the damaged tissue. Twelve months after the operation, the morphological observation demonstrated that this chitosan tube could induce regeneration of myelinated and non-myelinated axons and blood vessels. The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) behavioral evaluation confirmed that the implants played a key role in the long-term restoration of rats motor functions. It is a promising start in the treatment of the patients with the injury of the spinal cord.     

Adult neural stem cells-Functional potential and therapeutic applications

The adult brain has been thought traditionally as a structure with a very limited regenerative capacity. It is now evident that neurogenesis in adult mammalian brain is a prevailing phenomenon. Neural stem cells with the ability to self-renew, differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes reside in some regions of the adult brain. Adult neurogenesis can be stimulated by many physiological factors including pregnancy. More strikingly, newborn neurons in hippocampus integrally function with local neurons, thus neural stem cells might play important roles in memory and learning function. It seems that neural stem cells could transdifferentiate into other tissues, such as blood cells and muscles. Although there are some impediments in this field, some attempts have been made to employ adult neural stem cells in the cell replacement therapy for traumatic and ischemic brain injuries.     

The mouse Dreher gene Lmx1a controls formation of the roof plate in the vertebrate CNS

In the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS), a cascade of signals that originates in the ectoderm adjacent to the neural tube is propagated by the roof plate to dorsalize the neural tube. Here we report that the phenotype of the spontaneous neurological mutant mouse dreher (dr) results from a failure of the roof plate to develop. Dorsalization of the neural tube is consequently affected: dorsal interneurons in the spinal cord and granule neurons in the cerebellar cortex are lost, and the dorsal vertebral neural arches fail to form. Positional cloning of dreher indicates that the LIM homeodomain protein, Lmx1a, is affected in three different alleles of dreher. Lmx1a is expressed in the roof plate along the neuraxis during development of the CNS. Thus, Lmx1a is required for development of the roof plate and, in turn, for specification of dorsal cell fates in the CNS and developing vertebrae.     

The end of the beginning for pluripotent stem cells.

Pluripotent stem cells can be expanded seemingly indefinitely in culture, maintain a normal karyotype and have the potential to generate any cell type in the body. As such they represent an incredible resource for the repair of diseased or damaged tissues in our bodies. These cells also promise to open a new window into the embryonic development of our species.     

Ependymal cells of chordate larvae are stem-like cells that form the adult nervous system

In ascidian tunicates, the metamorphic transition from larva to adult is accompanied by dynamic changes in the body plan. For instance, the central nervous system (CNS) is subjected to extensive rearrangement because its regulating larval organs are lost and new adult organs are created. To understand how the adult CNS is reconstructed, we traced the fate of larval CNS cells during ascidian metamorphosis by using transgenic animals and imaging technologies with photoconvertible fluorescent proteins. Here we show that most parts of the ascidian larval CNS, except for the tail nerve cord, are maintained during metamorphosis and recruited to form the adult CNS. We also show that most of the larval neurons disappear and only a subset of cholinergic motor neurons and glutamatergic neurons are retained. Finally, we demonstrate that ependymal cells of the larval CNS contribute to the construction of the adult CNS and that some differentiate into neurons in the adult CNS. An unexpected role of ependymal cells highlighted by this study is that they serve as neural stem-like cells to reconstruct the adult nervous network during chordate metamorphosis. Consequently, the plasticity of non-neuronal ependymal cells and neuronal cells in chordates should be re-examined by future studies.     

Regenerating the damaged central nervous system

It is self-evident that the adult mammalian brain and spinal cord do not regenerate after injury, but recent discoveries have forced a reconsideration of this accepted principle. Advances in our understanding of how the brain develops have provided a rough blueprint for how we may bring about regeneration in the damaged brain. Studies in developmental neurobiology, intracellular signalling and neuroimmunology are bringing the regeneration field closer to success. Notwithstanding these advances, clear and indisputable evidence for adult functional regeneration remains to be shown.     

干细胞与心肌再生

由于成年心肌细胞通常不能再生,严重的心肌损伤会导致心肌不可逆的重构坏死, 从而发生心功能失调. 干细胞再生治疗为心肌再生提供了很好的策略. 为了寻找合适的干细胞类型, 促进心肌再生, 有效改善心功能, 需要更好地了解心肌修复和再生的分子基础. 已有研究发现多种干细胞可促进心肌再生. 描述了骨髓干细胞的促血管新生及心肌分化的能力在心梗治疗中的作用, 还讨论了心脏侧群干细胞以及诱导型多能干细胞在心肌再生中的作用和分子机制. 所阐述的最新数据有利于拓展干细胞治疗的有效潜能及临床影响.