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)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Max Y. Y. Jin, Tristan E. Weaver, Adam Farris, Mayank Gupta, Alaa Abd-Elsayed
Summary: While denervation can occur with aging, peripheral nerve injuries often result in loss of function and neuropathic pain. Neuromodulation has shown promise in enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration, but additional interventions are needed to control the direction of reinnervation. More human studies are required to validate findings from animal studies and optimize neuromodulation for functional restoration.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yao Liu, Xiaonong Zhang, Chunsheng Xiao, Bin Liu
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex disease that commonly affects young adults and has limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. Tissue-engineered hydrogels have shown promising results in promoting neural tissue regeneration and recovery of impaired neural function. This review discusses recent advances and various therapeutic strategies of hydrogels in peripheral nerve repair, as well as the prospects and challenges in their application for PNI treatment.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jiawei Xu, Jinkun Wen, Lanya Fu, Liqiang Liao, Ying Zou, Jiaqi Zhang, Junyao Deng, Haowen Zhang, Jingmin Liu, Xianghai Wang, Daming Zuo, Jiasong Guo
Summary: The depletion of RhoA in macrophages has a negative impact on Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration, mainly due to impaired migration and phagocytosis of macrophages resulting from disrupted RhoA/ROCK/MLCK pathway. Since previous research has shown that RhoA inhibition in neurons promotes axonal regeneration, the study highlights the importance of considering cellular specificity of RhoA-targeted drugs in future applications for treating peripheral nerve injuries.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Kathryn L. Wofford, Robert B. Shultz, Justin C. Burrell, D. Kacy Cullen
Summary: Peripheral nerve injuries disrupt cellular communication between the central nervous system and somatic distal end targets, leading to limited muscle reinnervation and functional recovery. Macrophages play a critical role in the regeneration of the injured peripheral nervous system, and implementing macrophage-based immunomodulatory therapies is promising for nerve injuries in various clinical presentations.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Can Liu, Lei Fan, Zhenming Tian, Huiquan Wen, Lei Zhou, Pengfei Guan, Yian Luo, Chuncheung Chan, Guoxin Tan, Chengyun Ning, Limin Rong, Bin Liu
Summary: Conductive scaffolds have shown therapeutic effects for patients with peripheral nerve injuries. The development of biocompatible electroconductive hydrogels has been proposed in this study, which can promote nerve repair and functional recovery.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Teng Ma, Yiming Hao, Shengyou Li, Bing Xia, Xue Gao, Yi Zheng, Liangwei Mei, Yitao Wei, Changbin Yang, Lei Lu, Zhuojing Luo, Jinghui Huang
Summary: In this study, a sequential oxygen supply system was developed using core-shell fibers to repair peripheral nerve defects. The system showed significant improvements in cell protection, angiogenesis, and nerve regeneration. The sequential oxygen supply conduits acted as oxygen suppliers for cells and resulted in similar functional outcomes as autografts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arthur W. English, Ken Berglund, Dario Carrasco, Katharina Goebel, Robert E. Gross, Robin Isaacson, Olivia C. Mistretta, Carly Wynans
Summary: Functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury is challenging due to slow and incomplete axon regeneration. Bioluminescent optogenetics, utilizing fusion proteins of luciferase and light-sensing ion channels, shows promise in enhancing axon regeneration by increasing neuronal excitability. Experimental studies in transgenic mice and viral vector-transduced mice demonstrate enhanced motor axon regeneration and successful muscle reinnervation after treatment with bioluminescent optogenetics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Estefania Contreras, Sara Traserra, Sara Bolivar, Joaquim Fores, Eduard Jose-Cunilleras, Ignacio Delgado-Martinez, Felix Garcia, Esther Udina, Xavier Navarro
Summary: This study used sheep as a model to investigate the repair of long-gap peripheral nerve injuries through autograft transplantation. Functional evaluation, electromyographic and ultrasound tests were performed. The results suggest that sheep nerve repair is a useful model for studying such injuries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Philip J. Hanwright, Chenhu Qiu, Jennifer Rath, Yang Zhou, Nicholas von Guionneau, Karim A. Sarhane, Thomas G. W. Harris, Gregory P. Howard, Harsha Malapati, Michael J. Lan, Sashank Reddy, Ahmet Hoke, Hai-Quan Mao, Sami H. Tuffaha
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of a novel nanoparticle delivery system for targeted and sustained release of IGF-1, leading to improved motor recovery through amelioration of denervation-induced muscle atrophy and SC senescence and enhanced axonal regeneration.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lingchi Kong, Xin Gao, Yun Qian, Wei Sun, Zhengwei You, Cunyi Fan
Summary: This review integrates the current understanding of the biomechanical microenvironment associated with peripheral nerve function and regeneration, introduces promising tissue engineering strategies based on biomechanical modulation, and provides suggestions and prospects for future directions.
Article
Neurosciences
Angela Yu-Huey Hsu, Sung-Tsang Hsieh
Summary: Dectin-1 plays a role in peripheral nerve injury, and inhibiting it can delay nerve degeneration and angiogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Errante, Anthony Diaz, Taylor Smartz, Aisha Khan, Risset Silvera, Adriana E. Brooks, Yee-Shuan Lee, S. Shelby Burks, Allan D. Levi
Summary: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is common in trauma patients, and severe PNI can be challenging to treat. The use of cell therapies, particularly Schwann cells, has shown effectiveness in PNI treatment. Our laboratory has demonstrated the effectiveness of Schwann cells in the treatment of severe PNI when used with axon guidance channels, but optimal cellular placement techniques are crucial.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qinfeng Yang, Shenghui Su, Shencai Liu, Sheng Yang, Jing Xu, Yixiu Zhong, Yusheng Yang, Liangjie Tian, Zilin Tan, Jian Wang, Zhiqiang Yu, Zhanjun Shi, Fangguo Liang
Summary: An electroconductive hydrogel loaded with bone marrow stem cell-derived exosomes was designed to treat diabetic peripheral nerve injury, resulting in functional recovery and pain relief. This system showed potential for nerve regeneration, functional restoration, and pain relief in patients with diabetic peripheral nerve injury.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Guidong Shi, Dingyu Hao, Lei Zhang, Jia Qin, Guangyuan Tian, Boyuan Ma, Xianhu Zhou
Summary: Through analysis of normal and activated Schwann cells, this study identified key genes and proteins involved in endocytosis and exosomes which may control the molecular mechanism of peripheral nerve repair. The study suggests that targeting endocytosis-associated pathways in Schwann cells could be a novel therapeutic approach for nerve tissue engineering and regeneration.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC TRANSLATION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.