Article
Neurosciences
Yunsong Zhang, Yinying Shen, Li Zhao, Qian Zhao, Lili Zhao, Sheng Yi
Summary: Nerve injury-induced Schwann cell dedifferentiation promotes axon growth by creating a favorable microenvironment. Transcription factor BCL11A plays a crucial role in Schwann cell reprogramming during peripheral nerve regeneration. Silencing Bcl11a reduces Schwann cell viability, proliferation, migration rates, and debris clearance ability. Bcl11a deficiency leads to restricted axon elongation and myelin wrapping, resulting in failed recovery. Mechanistically, BCL11A regulates Schwann cell activity by binding to the Nr2f2 promoter and modulating Nr2f2 expression. In conclusion, BCL11A is essential for Schwann cell activation and peripheral nerve regeneration, making it a potential therapeutic target for peripheral nerve injury treatment.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(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.
Review
Cell Biology
Jingxin Zhang, Binjing Zhang, Jinglan Zhang, Weimin Lin, Shiwen Zhang
Summary: Magnesium as a suitable material for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration has both challenges and potentials, but there is currently limited research on this topic, requiring further exploration to address the shortcomings and challenges identified.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yunsong Zhang, Qian Zhao, Qianqian Chen, Lingchi Xu, Sheng Yi
Summary: Transcription factors play important roles in nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury, including regulating axon elongation and Schwann cell phenotype modulation. Understanding these transcription factors can help promote functional recovery of injured peripheral nerves.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yangnan Hu, Zhuoyue Chen, Hongyang Wang, Jiahui Guo, Jiaying Cai, Xiaoyan Chen, Hao Wei, Jieyu Qi, Qiuju Wang, Huisheng Liu, Yuanjin Zhao, Renjie Chai
Summary: Inspired by the structures of peripheral nerves, researchers have developed a conductive topological scaffold for nerve repair using modified butterfly wings. The scaffold showed increased neurite length and guided cellular orientation, and successfully repaired nerve defects in rats.
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.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiaolan Li, Xiang Zhang, Ming Hao, Dongxu Wang, Ziping Jiang, Liqun Sun, Yongjian Gao, Ye Jin, Peng Lei, Yue Zhuo
Summary: This review summarizes the importance of collagen in peripheral nerve regeneration, focusing on its characteristics, role, and optimization methods. Collagen, as a biomaterial, plays a crucial role in peripheral nerve repair and can be further optimized by adjusting its structure and physical properties, as well as combining it with bioactive components.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Simon C. Kellaway, Victoria Roberton, Joshua N. Jones, Rabea Loczenski, James B. Phillips, Lisa J. White
Summary: Incorporating dECMh derived from bone, liver, and small intestinal tissues can promote neurite extension and axonal regeneration, providing an alternative to current collagen I hydrogel.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Poornima Ramburrun, Pradeep Kumar, Elias Ndobe, Yahya E. Choonara
Summary: This study evaluated a biosimulated nerve repair system providing three types of regenerative cues in a peripheral nerve injury model. The nanofibers supported PC12 proliferation, preserved muscle mass, and gradually improved functional recovery. The combination of physical guidance, chemical cues, and therapeutic cues offers a promising strategy for the regeneration of severed peripheral nerves.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ping Wu, Zan Tong, Lihua Luo, Yanan Zhao, Feixiang Chen, Yinping Li, Celine Huselstein, Qifa Ye, Qingsong Ye, Yun Chen
Summary: The combination of VEGF and Schwann cells in peripheral nerve repair shows promising results in promoting nerve regeneration. The HSPS conduits loaded with VEGF-A overexpressing Schwann cells demonstrate high durability and efficiency in repairing nerve tissue, making them a potential new avenue for nerve tissue engineering.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sergey O. Solomevich, Carlo M. Oranges, Daniel F. Kalbermatten, Anna Schwendeman, Srinivas Madduri
Summary: Peripheral nerve repair is a serious problem in neurosurgery, with poor clinical outcomes and significant socioeconomic burden. Biodegradable polysaccharides show great potential for improving nerve regeneration. This review focuses on the promising therapeutic strategies involving different types of polysaccharides and their composites for promoting nerve regeneration, highlighting their applications in nerve guidance conduits, hydrogels, nanofibers, and films. The ease of therapeutic implementation, drug release properties, therapeutic outcomes, and future research directions are also discussed.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wei Pi, Yanling Zhang, Longfei Li, Ci Li, Meng Zhang, Wei Zhang, Qing Cai, Peixun Zhang
Summary: This study fabricated aligned conductive scaffolds composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via electrospinning and loaded brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) onto the scaffolds. The results showed that the scaffolds effectively promoted peripheral nerve regeneration both in vitro and in vivo, indicating their potential for nerve restoration.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Trevor Poitras, Douglas W. Zochodne
Summary: Common mechanisms of peripheral axon regeneration are recruited following diverse forms of damage to peripheral nerve axons. Supporting peripheral axon regrowth could be achieved through direct axon support or manipulation of the inflammatory milieu. Understanding the molecular barriers to regrowth and exploiting the downstream signaling pathways that impact neuron growth are promising approaches for promoting adult peripheral axon regeneration. This review emphasizes intrinsic aspects of adult peripheral axon regeneration and highlights several molecular barriers to regrowth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lorena R. Lizarraga-Valderrama, Giulia Ronchi, Rinat Nigmatullin, Federica Fregnan, Pooja Basnett, Alexandra Paxinou, Stefano Geuna, Ipsita Roy
Summary: The study demonstrated that PHA-NGCs are highly promising in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration, showing comparable outcomes to autografts in functional evaluation and nerve morphology.
BIOENGINEERING & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
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
Clinical Neurology
Milan Makwana, Joseph P. Merola, Imran Bhatti, Chirag K. Patel, Paul A. Leach
Summary: Spontaneous central nervous system infections in children are rare and require surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy. This study retrospectively reviewed 26 cases managed in a center in South Wales, finding improved outcomes over time, possibly due to increased availability of imaging resources, use of neuro-navigation, earlier identification of sepsis, communication with microbiologists, enhanced identification of causative organisms, and contemporary anti-microbials.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hendrik A. Messal, Jorge Almagro, May Zaw Thin, Antonio Tedeschi, Alessandro Ciccarelli, Laura Blackie, Kurt I. Anderson, Irene Miguel-Aliaga, Jacco van Rheenen, Axel Behrens
Summary: The FLASH technique is a quick and customizable method for molecular phenotyping of intact tissue volumes. It enables detection of a multitude of antigens in whole mouse organs and embryos, human biopsies, organoids, and Drosophila. FLASH allows for epithelial marker retrieval and immunolabeling, and preserves sample architecture for subsequent histopathological analysis.
Article
Cell Biology
Anne Clancy, Claire Heride, Adan Pinto-Fernandez, Hannah Elcocks, Andreas Kallinos, Katherine J. Kayser-Bricker, Weiping Wang, Victoria Smith, Simon Davis, Shawn Fessler, Crystal McKinnon, Marie Katz, Tim Hammonds, Neil P. Jones, Jonathan O'Connell, Bruce Follows, Steven Mischke, Justin A. Caravella, Stephanos Ioannidis, Christopher Dinsmore, Sunkyu Kim, Axel Behrens, David Komander, Benedikt M. Kessler, Sylvie Urbe, Michael J. Clague
Summary: When a ribosome stalls during translation, it may collide with a trailing ribosome, leading to the formation of a stable di-ribosome complex. This complex requires the activity of Makorin and ZNF598 ubiquitin E3 ligases for resolution, with the protein deubiquitylase USP9X regulating the abundance of these E3 ligases. In the absence of USP9X or following its inhibition, levels of Makorins and ZNF598 decrease, impacting the ribosomal quality control pathway.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Erik Axel Andersson, Eridan Rocha-Ferreira, Henrik Hagberg, Carina Mallard, Carl Joakim Ek
Summary: The study investigated the impact of GMH on the BBB using a rat model, showing that GMH causes temporary dysfunction in the BBB that normalizes within 5 days. Tight-junction proteins were identified as potential biomarkers for GMH.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Milan Makwana, Humaira Hussain, Joseph P. Merola, Malik Zaben, Anthony R. Jesurasa, Chirag Patel, Paul Leach
Summary: There are currently no neurosurgical guidelines for the preoperative dosing of dexamethasone in posterior fossa tumors. This study aimed to determine the initial dose used in symptomatic patients. The results showed that smaller children received higher doses of dexamethasone. It is recommended to establish guidelines that correlate clinical symptoms with the appropriate dose of dexamethasone.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huafu Li, Chunming Wang, Linxiang Lan, Leping Yan, Wuguo Li, Ian Evans, E. Josue Ruiz, Qiao Su, Guangying Zhao, Wenhui Wu, Haiyong Zhang, Zhijun Zhou, Zhenran Hu, Wei Chen, Joaquim M. Oliveira, Axel Behrens, Rui L. Reis, Changhua Zhang
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the mechanism of oxaliplatin resistance in gastric cancer using in vitro human gastric cancer organoids and oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines, as well as in vivo tumorigenicity experiments. They found that CD133+ stem cell-like cells are the main subpopulation associated with resistance, and that the gene PARP1 plays a central role in mediating this resistance. The researchers discovered that PARP1 can effectively repair DNA damage caused by oxaliplatin by activating the base excision repair pathway, leading to the development of drug resistance. They also found that CD133+ cells exhibit increased expression of the mRNA modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and its writer METTL3, which enhances the stability of PARP1 and contributes to its DNA damage repair ability. Overall, this study demonstrates that m6A methyltransferase METTL3 promotes oxaliplatin resistance in CD133+ gastric cancer stem cells by increasing PARP1 mRNA stability and base excision repair activity.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew R. J. Mason, Susan van Erp, Kim Wolzak, Axel Behrens, Gennadij Raivich, Joost Verhaagen
Summary: The regeneration-associated gene expression program is crucial for axon re-growth in injured peripheral neurons. Jun, a transcription factor, plays an important role in regulating this program by upregulating gene expression and promoting cell regeneration while inhibiting plasticity response.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Z. James, M. Makwana, C. Hayhurst
Summary: This study reviewed all cases of de novo atypical skull base meningiomas within a single unit to analyze their presentation and outcome. The location, size, and extent of resection of the tumors were found to be related to patient prognosis. Multicenter studies are needed to guide the management of atypical skull base meningiomas.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY PART B-SKULL BASE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica K. Nelson, May Zaw Thin, Theodore Evan, Steven Howell, Mary Wu, Bruna Almeida, Nathalie Legrave, Duco S. Koenis, Gabriela Koifman, Yoichiro Sugimoto, Miriam Llorian Sopena, James MacRae, Emma Nye, Michael Howell, Ambrosius P. Snijders, Andreas Prachalias, Yoh Zen, Debashis Sarker, Axel Behrens
Summary: This study reveals that the deubiquitinating enzyme USP25 promotes growth and survival of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by stabilizing and regulating the transcriptional activity of HIF-1 protein. PDAC is characterized by a severely hypoxic microenvironment, and inhibition of USP25 impairs HIF-1 activity and induces cell death in the tumor core. The USP25/HIF-1α axis may be a potential therapeutic target for PDAC.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Syam Nair, Anna-Lena Leverin, Eridan Rocha-Ferreira, Kristina S. Sobotka, Claire Thornton, Carina Mallard, Henrik Hagberg
Summary: Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) leads to immature brain injury mediated by mitochondrial stress. The turnover of mitochondria, including mitophagy and biogenesis, is critical for brain development and functional recovery. Excessive mitophagy in the early phase may be pathological, leading to secondary energy depletion, while secondary mitophagy may contribute to post-HI regeneration and repair.
Review
Cell Biology
Xianan Fu, Shoupeng Wei, Tao Wang, Hengxin Fan, Ying Zhang, Clive Da Costa, Sebastian Brandner, Guang Yang, Yihang Pan, Yulong He, Ningning Li
Summary: This article clarifies the origin of the evolution of GPR158 in different species, summarizes the relationship between GPR158 and different diseases for potential drug target identification, discusses recent studies on unraveling the features and principles of GPR158, and provides future perspectives.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Linxiang Lan, Theodore Evan, Huafu Li, Aasia Hussain, E. Josue Ruiz, May Zaw Thin, Rute M. M. Ferreira, Hari Ps, Eva M. Riising, Yoh Zen, Jorge Almagro, Kevin W. Ng, Pablo Soro-Barrio, Jessica Nelson, Gabriela Koifman, Joana Carvalho, Emma L. Nye, Yulong He, Changhua Zhang, Anguraj Sadanandam, Axel Behrens
Summary: This study identifies BMP inhibitor GREM1 as a key regulator of cellular heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer. Continuous activity of GREM1 is required to maintain the stability of the epithelial PDAC subpopulations, while high activity of GREM1 can revert the mesenchymal fate of PDAC cells. By inhibiting the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factors, GREM1 restricts the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of pancreatic cancer cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Ruohan Li, Huaixiang Zhou, Mingzhe Li, Qiuyan Mai, Zhang Fu, Youheng Jiang, Changxue Li, Yunfei Gao, Yunping Fan, Kaiming Wu, Clive Da Costa, Xia Sheng, Yulong He, Ningning Li
Summary: This study found that GREM1 protein promotes invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by regulating the expression of ATF6 and ATF4, possibly through the modulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and BMP2 signaling pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria E. Hammarlund, C. Joakim Ek, Sukaina Akar, Alma Karlsson, Bagmi Pattanaik, Filip Mjornstedt, Pernilla Svedin, Maryam Ardalan, Eridan Rocha-Ferreira, Carina Mallard, Maria E. Johansson
Summary: Inflammation plays an important role in the development of neonatal brain injury. Activation of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha 7nAChR) has shown to decrease acute inflammatory responses in male pups, but does not affect overall injury outcome.
Review
Oncology
Jorge Almagro, Hendrik A. Messal, Alberto Elosegui-Artola, Jacco van Rheenen, Axel Behrens
Summary: The 3D architecture of tissues bearing tumors has significant impacts on the mechanical microenvironment of cancer, the accessibility of stromal cells, and the routes of invasion. Various forces from cancer cells, host tissue, and the molecular and cellular microenvironment modulate the morphology and malignant potential of the tumor through mechanical, biochemical, genetic, and epigenetic cues. Recent studies have revealed how tissue architecture influences cancer biology and progression.