Review
Surgery
Jaimy E. Koopman, Liron S. Duraku, Tim de Jong, Rob B. M. de Vries, J. Michiel Zuidam, Caroline A. Hundepool
Summary: Fibrin glue and conventional suture repair yield similar outcomes in nerve repair, but fibrin glue offers the advantages of easier use and shorter operation times. However, fibrin glue alone may result in lower strength and more dehiscence, suggesting the combination with sutures for better outcomes.
JOURNAL OF PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Justin C. Burrell, Phuong T. Vu, Owen J. B. Alcott, Carlos A. Toro, Christopher Cardozo, D. Kacy Cullen
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury often leads to poor functional recovery due to prolonged muscle denervation. This study shows that orally administered boldine, a connexin hemichannel inhibitor, can reduce muscle denervation-related changes and promote nerve regeneration.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Zongding Wang, Tiemin Jiang, Tuerganaili Aji, Kalibixiati Aimulajiang, Yanshi Liu, Guodong Lv, Hao Wen
Summary: This study found that netrin-1 accelerates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice, and the potential mechanism is related to the promotion of vagus nerve repair and regeneration.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Kasey Leigh Wood, Marina I. Adrianzen Fonseca, Kirsten A. Gunderson, Zeeda H. Nkana, Aaron M. Dingle, Jacqueline S. Israel, Samuel O. Poore
Summary: This study investigated differential gene expression in transected nerves repaired under high and minimal tension. The findings suggest that the improved outcomes achieved with minimal-tension nerve repair may be associated with a favorable gene expression profile. Further exploration of biochemical pathways in nerve regeneration may help identify potential therapeutic targets to optimize primary nerve repair outcomes.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Liu, Chuanlei Zhang, Yanhui Kong, Huiyu Liu, Cheng Chen, Wenyu Gao, Xiaowei Xi, Hui Yang, Linhong Deng
Summary: Blindness often occurs due to corneal abnormalities, and corneal transplantation is the most effective treatment method. Developing high-quality artificial corneas is crucial since there is a shortage of available donor corneas for transplantation. Collagen, the main component of natural cornea, is commonly used as a material in corneal repair. However, promoting the regeneration of corneal nerves after surgery remains a challenge. In this study, researchers developed a novel collagen-based material that showed promising results in promoting the growth of nerve cells and corneal epithelial cells. The findings suggest that this material may have potential applications in cornea tissue engineering.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ane Escobar, Rui Luis Reis, Joaquim Miguel Oliveira
Summary: Peripheral nerve injuries are a common cause of disabilities, and treatment with long nerve gap autografts is currently considered the best method. However, due to limited availability and potential issues at the donor site, research is focusing on developing regenerative strategies using artificial nerve guidance conduits (NGCs). These NGCs can be optimized through various methods to enhance nerve regeneration, and recent advancements in using different types of nanoparticles to introduce growth factors to NGCs are discussed in depth.
Article
Neurosciences
Mar Bosch-Queralt, Robert Fledrich, Ruth M. Stassart
Summary: The Schwann cell (SC), a glial cell in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is highly versatile in its functions. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of neurons and guiding their axonal development. SCs also contribute to the structural organization of nerves, including blood vessels and various layers. They are involved in myelination of large axons and organization of non-myelinating bundles. SCs have diverse specialized functions in specific locations, such as the neuromuscular junction and cutaneous sensory end organs. They also interact closely with sensory and autonomic neurons. In response to nerve injuries, SCs exhibit remarkable plasticity and transform into repair cells that promote nerve regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these functions are still not fully understood.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luke Juckett, Tiam Mana Saffari, Benjamin Ormseth, Jenna-Lynn Senger, Amy M. M. Moore
Summary: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) often result in lifelong disability with rare complete functional recovery. Intraoperative electrical stimulation (ES) is a promising surgical adjunct that can augment the intrinsic molecular pathways of nerve regeneration. Clinical trials have shown that ES can be an efficacious therapy to improve patient outcomes following PNIs.
Article
Neurosciences
Supriya S. Wariyar, Alden D. Brown, Tina Tian, Tana S. Pottorf, Patricia J. Ward
Summary: This study investigates the impact of using fibrin glue in nerve repair on exercise-induced nerve regeneration. Results show that nerves repaired with fibrin glue exhibit more vasculature in the tissue bridge and have more robust axon regeneration after exercise compared to nerves without fibrin glue repair. When angiogenesis in the tissue bridge is prevented, exercise is unable to enhance regeneration, indicating the importance of a vascularized bridge. The combination of fibrin glue repair and exercise significantly improves vascular growth, axon elongation, neuromuscular junction reinnervation, and functional recovery.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ngan Pan Bennett Au, Raza Chand, Gajendra Kumar, Pallavi Asthana, Wing Yip Tam, Kin Man Tang, Chi-Chiu Ko, Chi Him Eddie Ma
Summary: This study discovered that a small molecule called M1 can promote mitochondrial fusion and transport, leading to the regeneration of axons and the recovery of visual function and neural activities after optic nerve injuries.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes C. Heinzel, Mai Quyen Nguyen, Laura Kefalianakis, Cosima Prahm, Adrien Daigeler, David Hercher, Jonas Kolbenschlag
Summary: Muscle-in-vein conduits have been proposed as an alternative to autologous nerve grafts due to the anti-inflammatory effects of veins and the proregenerative environment established by muscle tissue. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive systematic summary on the efficacy and feasibility of muscle-in-vein conduits for reconstruction of segmental nerve defects.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Biao Yang, Chengzhen Liang, Di Chen, Feng Cheng, Yuang Zhang, Shaoke Wang, Jiawei Shu, Xianpeng Huang, Jingkai Wang, Kaishun Xia, Liwei Ying, Kesi Shi, Chenggui Wang, Xuhua Wang, Fangcai Li, Qian Zhao, Qixin Chen
Summary: The current effective method for treating spinal cord injury (SCI) involves using a hydrogel called agarose/gelatin/polypyrrole (Aga/Gel/PPy, AGP3) to fill the injured cavity and promote neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation. This AGP3 hydrogel showed excellent biocompatibility and promoted neuronal differentiation while inhibiting astrocyte growth. In vivo studies demonstrated that the AGP3 hydrogel covered tissue defects, reduced the size of the injured area, and facilitated functional recovery by promoting endogenous neurogenesis. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that AGP3 hydrogel modulated the expression of neurogenesis-related genes through intracellular calcium signaling pathways.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lars B. Dahlin
Summary: Appropriate animal models are crucial for studying the biology and physiology of neurons and other cells under normal and stress conditions. Understanding the activation of genes and factors in nerve regeneration is important for conditions like nerve injuries and neuropathy. Advanced technology and bioinformatics are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of different cell types and their behavior in neuropathies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Peter J. Nicksic, D'Andrea T. Donnelly, Weifeng Zeng, Allison J. Seitz, Samuel O. Poore, Aaron J. Suminski, Aaron M. Dingle
Summary: The study demonstrates that trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) or peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) can improve functional outcomes of peripheral nerve injury in rats. This finding is important in translating the therapy as a non-invasive treatment for high, mixed nerve injuries in humans.
JOURNAL OF PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY
(2024)
Article
Neurosciences
Leyang Li, Su Chen, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, Hidetoshi Kaburagi, Takashi Hirai, Kunikazu Tsuji, Mitsuhiro Enomoto, Yoshiaki Wakabayashi, Atsushi Okawa
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) leads to severe functional loss in extremities, and delayed nerve repair results in muscle denervation and atrophy. To better understand NMJ degeneration and regeneration after PNI, we established two models of nerve repair in mice and compared their outcomes. Our results suggest that allogeneic nerve grafting is more effective than end-to-end neurorrhaphy in promoting functional recovery and increasing reinnervated NMJs and Schwann cells in the target muscle. Further investigation is needed to explore the relationship between NMJ and Schwann cells in the target muscle.