Peripheral Nerve Injury Model Research Articles

Rejuvenating fecal microbiota transplant enhances peripheral nerve repair in aged mice by modulating endoneurial inflammation

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) resulting from trauma or neuropathies can cause significant disability, and its prognosis deteriorates with age. Emerging evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis and reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contribute to an age-related systemic hyperinflammation (inflammaging), which hinders nerve recovery after injury. This study thus aimed to evaluate the pro-regenerative effects of a rejuvenating fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in a preclinical PNI model using aged mice. Aged C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral crush injuries to their sciatic nerves. Subsequently, they either received FMT from young donors at three and four days after the injury or retained their aged gut microbiota. We analyzed gut microbiome composition and SCFA concentrations in fecal samples. The integrity of the ileac mucosal barrier was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of Claudin-1. Flow cytometry was utilized to examine immune cells and cytokine production in the ileum, spleen, and sciatic nerve. Various assessments, including behavioural tests, electrophysiological studies, and morphometrical analyses, were conducted to evaluate peripheral nerve function and repair following injury. Rejuvenating FMT reversed age-related gut dysbiosis by increasing Actinobacteria, especially Bifidobacteriales genera. This intervention also led to an elevation of gut SCFA levels and mitigated age-related ileac mucosal leakiness in aged recipients. Additionally, it augmented the number of T-helper 2 (Th2) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the ileum and spleen, with the majority being positive for anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10). In sciatic nerves, rejuvenating FMT resulted in increased M2 macrophage counts and a higher IL-10 production by IL-10+TNF-α− M2 macrophage subsets. Ultimately, restoring a youthful gut microbiome in aged mice led to improved nerve repair and enhanced functional recovery after PNI. Considering that FMT is already a clinically available technique, exploring novel translational strategies targeting the gut microbiome to enhance nerve repair in the elderly seems promising and warrants further evaluation.

Rab32 facilitates Schwann cell pyroptosis in rats following peripheral nerve injury by elevating ROS levels.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is commonly observed in clinical practice, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the correlation between the expression of a Ras-related protein Rab32 and pyroptosis in rats following PNI, and potential mechanisms have been explored by which Rab32 may influence Schwann cells pyroptosis and ultimately peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR) through the regulation of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The authors investigated the induction of Schwann cell pyroptosis and the elevated expression of Rab32 in a rat model of PNI. In vitro experiments revealed an upregulation of Rab32 during Schwann cell pyroptosis. Furthermore,the effect of Rab32 on the level of ROS in mitochondria in pyroptosis model has also been studied. Finally, the effects of knocking down the Rab32 gene on PNR were assessed, morphology, sensory and motor functions of sciatic nerves, electrophysiology and immunohistochemical analysis were conducted to assess the therapeutic efficacy. Silencing Rab32 attenuated PNI-induced Schwann cell pyroptosis and promoted peripheral nerve regeneration. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that Rab32 induces significant oxidative stress by damaging the mitochondria of Schwann cells in the pyroptosis model in vitro. Rab32 exacerbated Schwann cell pyroptosis in PNI model, leading to delayed peripheral nerve regeneration. Rab32 can be a potential target for future therapeutic strategy in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries.

Platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes boost mesenchymal stem cells to promote peripheral nerve regeneration

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains a severe clinical problem with debilitating consequences. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy is promising, but the problems of poor engraftment and insufficient neurotrophic effects need to be overcome. Herein, we isolated platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes (PRP-Exos), which contain abundant bioactive molecules, and investigated their potential to increase the regenerative capacity of MSCs. We observed that PRP-Exos significantly increased MSC proliferation, viability, and mobility, decreased MSC apoptosis under stress, maintained MSC stemness, and attenuated MSC senescence. In vivo, PRP-Exo-treated MSCs (pExo-MSCs) exhibited an increased retention rate and heightened therapeutic efficacy, as indicated by increased axonal regeneration, remyelination, and recovery of neurological function in a PNI model. In vitro, pExo-MSCs coculture promoted Schwann cell proliferation and dorsal root ganglion axon growth. Moreover, the increased neurotrophic behaviour of pExo-MSCs was mediated by trophic factors, particularly glia-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and PRP-Exos activated the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in MSCs, leading to the observed phenotypes. These findings demonstrate that PRP-Exos may be novel agents for increasing the ability of MSCs to promote neural repair and regeneration in patients with PNI.

Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy and Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in Sensory Recovery in Experimentally Induced Peripheral Nerve Injury Rat Model

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries are known to cause significant functional impairment and diminishedsensory recovery, necessitating the exploration of effective therapeutic interventions.Purpose: The purpose of this research is to find the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and low intensitypulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) sensory recovery in an experimentally induced peripheral nerve injury rat model.Materials and Methods: In this study, 18 adult male wistar rats which are divided into LLLT (n = 6), LIPUS (n = 6),and control (n = 6) groups. All rats underwent a standardized procedure to induce peripheral nerve injury, whilethe control group received sham procedures. Hot-Plate test and Cold-Plate Tests were conducted for pre- andpost-operative evaluation of sensory recovery at POD 7, 14, 21 days.Results: The study’s findings revealed that LLLT exhibited significantly improved sensory recovery compared toLIPUS and control groups on POD 14 and 21, indicating its potential as a promising non-invasive intervention formanaging peripheral nerve injuries (P <0.001).Conclusion: The study recommends that LLLT is more effective when compared with LIPUS in promoting sensoryrecovery and enhancing in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury. Positive outcomes indicate LLLT’s potential asa promising intervention for managing peripheral nerve injuries.

Alleviation of neuropathic pain with neuropeptide Y requires spinal Npy1r interneurons that coexpress Grp.

Neuropeptide Y targets the Y1 receptor (Y1) in the spinal dorsal horn (DH) to produce endogenous and exogenous analgesia. DH interneurons that express Y1 (Y1-INs; encoded by Npy1r) are necessary and sufficient for neuropathic hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve injury. However, as Y1-INs are heterogenous in composition in terms of morphology, neurophysiological characteristics, and gene expression, we hypothesized that a more precisely defined subpopulation mediates neuropathic hypersensitivity. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that Y1-INs segregate into 3 largely nonoverlapping subpopulations defined by the coexpression of Npy1r with gastrin-releasing peptide (Grp/Npy1r), neuropeptide FF (Npff/Npy1r), and cholecystokinin (Cck/Npy1r) in the superficial DH of mice, nonhuman primates, and humans. Next, we analyzed the functional significance of Grp/Npy1r, Npff/Npy1r, and Cck/Npy1r INs to neuropathic pain using a mouse model of peripheral nerve injury. We found that chemogenetic inhibition of Npff/Npy1r-INs did not change the behavioral signs of neuropathic pain. Further, inhibition of Y1-INs with an intrathecal Y1 agonist, [Leu31, Pro34]-NPY, reduced neuropathic hypersensitivity in mice with conditional deletion of Npy1r from CCK-INs and NPFF-INs but not from GRP-INs. We conclude that Grp/Npy1r-INs are conserved in higher order mammalian species and represent a promising and precise pharmacotherapeutic target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Quantitative evaluation of rat sciatic nerve degeneration using high-frequency ultrasound

In this study, we evaluated the utility of using high-frequency ultrasound to non-invasively track the degenerative process in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury. Primary analyses explored spatial and temporal changes in quantitative backscatter coefficient (BSC) spectrum-based outcomes and B-mode textural outcomes, using gray level co-occurrence matrices (GLCMs), during the progressive transition from acute to chronic injury. As secondary analyses, correlations among GLCM and BSC spectrum-based parameters were evaluated, and immunohistochemistry were used to suggest a structural basis for ultrasound outcomes. Both mean BSC spectrum-based and mean GLCM-based measures exhibited significant spatial differences across presurgical and 1-month/2-month time points, distal stumps enclosed proximity to the injury site being particularly affected. The two sets of parameters sensitively detected peripheral nerve degeneration at 1-month and 2-month post-injury, with area under the receiver operating charactersitic curve > 0.8 for most parameters. The results also indicated that the many BSC spectrum-based and GLCM-based parameters significantly correlate with each other, and suggested a common structural basis for a diverse set of quantitative ultrasound parameters. The findings of this study suggest that BSC spectrum-based and GLCM-based analysis are promising non-invasive techniques for diagnosing peripheral nerve degeneration.

METTL3-mediated maturation of miR-192-5p targets ATG7 to prevent Schwann cell autophagy in peripheral nerve injury.

The inhibition of miR-192-5p can promote nerve repair in rats with peripheral nerve injury (PNI) but the precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Schwann cell (SC) autophagy mediated by autophagy-related gene (ATG) proteins has a key role in PNI but it is uncertain whether miR-192-5p affects the involvement of SC autophagy in PNI. In this study, we investigated the impact of methyltransferase-like protein 3 (METTL3)/miR-192-5p/ATG7 on SC autophagy in a rat PNI model and in an SC oxygen and glucose deprivation model. The results revealed that METTL3 stimulated miR-192-5p maturation via m6A methylation to depress ATG7 and SC autophagy and aggravate PNI. These findings provide a new target and potential basis for the treatment of patients with PNI.

M2 macrophage-derived cathepsin S promotes peripheral nerve regeneration via fibroblast–Schwann cell-signaling relay

BackgroundAlthough peripheral nerves have an intrinsic self-repair capacity following damage, functional recovery is limited in patients. It is a well-established fact that macrophages accumulate at the site of injury. Numerous studies indicate that the phenotypic shift from M1 macrophage to M2 macrophage plays a crucial role in the process of axon regeneration. This polarity change is observed exclusively in peripheral macrophages but not in microglia and CNS macrophages. However, the molecular basis of axonal regeneration by M2 macrophage is not yet fully understood. Herein, we aimed to identify the M2 macrophage-derived axon regeneration factor.MethodsWe established a peripheral nerve injury model by transection of the inferior alveolar nerve (IANX) in Sprague–Dawley rats. Transcriptome analysis was performed on the injured nerve. Recovery from sensory deficits in the mandibular region and histological reconnection of IAN after IANX were assessed in rats with macrophage depletion by clodronate. We investigated the effects of adoptive transfer of M2 macrophages or M2-derived cathepsin S (CTSS) on the sensory deficit. CTSS initiating signaling was explored by western blot analysis in IANX rats and immunohistochemistry in co-culture of primary fibroblasts and Schwann cells (SCs).ResultsTranscriptome analysis revealed that CTSS, a macrophage-selective lysosomal protease, was upregulated in the IAN after its injury. Spontaneous but partial recovery from a sensory deficit in the mandibular region after IANX was abrogated by macrophage ablation at the injured site. In addition, a robust induction of c-Jun, a marker of the repair-supportive phenotype of SCs, after IANX was abolished by macrophage ablation. As in transcriptome analysis, CTSS was upregulated at the injured IAN than in the intact IAN. Endogenous recovery from hypoesthesia was facilitated by supplementation of CTSS but delayed by pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing of CTSS at the injured site. Adoptive transfer of M2-polarized macrophages at this site facilitated sensory recovery dependent on CTSS in macrophages. Post-IANX, CTSS caused the cleavage of Ephrin-B2 in fibroblasts, which, in turn, bound EphB2 in SCs. CTSS-induced Ephrin-B2 cleavage was also observed in human sensory nerves. Inhibition of CTSS-induced Ephrin-B2 signaling suppressed c-Jun induction in SCs and sensory recovery.ConclusionsThese results suggest that M2 macrophage-derived CTSS contributes to axon regeneration by activating SCs via Ephrin-B2 shedding from fibroblasts.

Polyethylene Glycol Fusion Restores Axonal Continuity and Improves Return of Function in a Rat Median Nerve Denervation Model.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can fuse severed closely-apposed axolemmas and restore axonal continuity. We evaluated the effects of PEG-fusion on functional recovery in a rodent forelimb model of peripheral nerve injury. The median nerves of male Lewis rats (n=5 per group) were transected and repaired with standard suture repair (SR), SR with PEG (PEG), or SR with PEG and 1% methylene blue (PEG+MB); a sham surgery group was also included. Proximal stimulation produced compound nerve (CAPS) and muscle (CMAPs) action potentials recorded distally. The contralateral limb of each animal acted as an internal control for grip strength measurements. CAPs and CMAPs immediately returned in all PEG and PEG+MB animals, but not in SR animals. PEG and PEG+MB groups demonstrated earlier return of function by post-operative day (POD) 7 (62.6 ±7.3% and 50.9 ±6.7% of contralateral limb grip strength, respectively) compared to SR group, in which minimal return of function was not measurable until POD 21. At POD 98, the PEG group grip strength recovered to 77.2 ±2.8% while the PEG+MB grip strength recovered to 79.9 ±4.4%, compared to 34.9 ±1.8% recovery in the SR group (p<0.05). The PEG and PEG+MB groups reached 50% of the Sham group grip strength on POD 3.8 and 6.3, respectively, whereas the SR group did not reach 50% grip strength recovery of the Sham group throughout the study period. PEG-fusion plus neurorrhaphy with or without methylene blue re-established axonal continuity, shortened recovery time, and augmented functional recovery compared to suture neurorrhaphy alone.

MiR-148b-3p suppresses the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells by targeting USP6 following sciatic nerve injury

ABSTRACT Background Peripheral nerve injury is a common disorder associated with damaged axons and distal myelin sheath degeneration, and Schwann cells play a paramount role in peripheral nerve regeneration. This study aims to explore the role of microRNA miR-148b-3p on Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury. Methods Sciatic nerve transection was conducted in rat as the model of peripheral nerve injury. The expression level of miR-148b-3p and Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 6 (USP6) was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot at diverse time points after nerve transection. Cell migration and proliferation were determined in primary Schwann cells isolated from rat. The functional interaction of miR-148b-3p and USP6 mRNA was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results In the animal model of sciatic nerve injury, miR-148b-3p expression level in the proximal nerve stump showed downregulation after nerve transection procedure, while USP6 expression level was elevated. The overexpression of miR-148b-3p inhibited the proliferation and migration of primary Schwann cells, while suppressing miR-148b-3p showed the opposite effect. USP6 mRNA was identified as a target of miR-148b-3p, which was found to mediate the effect of miR-148b-3p. USP6 silencing suppressed the migration and proliferation in primary Schwann cells. Conclusion Our data demonstrated the functional role of miR-148b-3p/USP6 axis in regulating the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells following peripheral nerve injury. miR-148b-3p showed downregulation and its target USP6 was upregulated after nerve transection procedure. Targeting miR-148b-3p/USP6 axis may provide a novel opportunity for peripheral nerve repair.

Effective Delivery of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Requires Many Stimulations Per Session and Many Sessions Per Week Over Many Weeks to Improve Recovery of Somatosensation.

Chronic sensory loss is a common and undertreated consequence of many forms of neurological injury. Emerging evidence indicates that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) delivered during tactile rehabilitation promotes recovery of somatosensation. Here, we characterize the amount, intensity, frequency, and duration of VNS therapy paradigms to determine the optimal dosage for VNS-dependent enhancement of recovery in a model of peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Rats underwent transection of the medial and ulnar nerves in the forelimb, resulting in chronic sensory loss in the paw. Eight weeks after injury, rats were implanted with a VNS cuff and received tactile rehabilitation sessions consisting of repeated mechanical stimulation of the previously denervated forepaw paired with short bursts of VNS. Rats received VNS therapy in 1 of 6 systematically varied dosing schedules to identify a paradigm that balanced therapy effectiveness with a shorter regimen. Delivering 200 VNS pairings a day 4 days a week for 4 weeks produced the greatest percent improvement in somatosensory function compared to any of the 6 other groups (One Way analysis of variance at the end of therapy, F[4 70] P = .005). Our findings demonstrate that an effective VNS therapy dosage delivers many stimulations per session, with many sessions per week, over many weeks. These results provide a framework to inform the development of VNS-based therapies for sensory restoration.

Acupuncture on “Huantiao” (GB30) and "Yanglingquan" (GB34) acupoints promotes nerve regeneration in mice model of peripheral nerve injury

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of acupuncture on promoting nerve regeneration in mice with sciatic nerve crushed injury, an animal model of peripheral nerve injury (PNI). MethodsAcupuncture was performed on the "Huantiao" (GB30) and "Yanglingquan" (GB34) acupoints in PNI mice model for 2 weeks. Gait analysis, toe spreading test, electrophysiological test, toluidine blue staining and immunostaining of myelin basic protein (MBP), neurofilament-200 (NF200), p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), and growth associated protein-43 (GAP43) were respectively performed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on crushed sciatic nerve. ResultsAcupuncture stimulation of “Huantiao” (GB30) and "Yanglingquan" (GB34) acupoints promoted the recovery of motor function and electrophysiological function in PNI mice model, which was indicated by a better gait level, toe spreading level and CMAP value in acupuncture group. The number of myelinated nerve fibers and the fluorescence intensity of MBP, NF200, p75NTR and GAP43 staining demonstrated that the acupuncture stimulation promoted the regeneration of injured nerves in PNI mice model. ConclusionAcupuncture significantly promoted the functional and morphological recovery of crushed sciatic nerve via promoting the expression of p75NTR in Schwann cells.

A nerve-wracking buzz: lessons from Drosophila models of peripheral neuropathy and axon degeneration.

The degeneration of axons and their terminals occurs following traumatic, toxic, or genetically-induced insults. Common molecular mechanisms unite these disparate triggers to execute a conserved nerve degeneration cascade. In this review, we will discuss how models of peripheral nerve injury and neuropathy in Drosophila have led the way in advancing molecular understanding of axon degeneration and nerve injury pathways. Both neuron-intrinsic as well as glial responses to injury will be highlighted. Finally, we will offer perspective on what additional questions should be answered to advance these discoveries toward clinical interventions for patients with neuropathy.

Probucol is anti-hyperalgesic in a mouse peripheral nerve injury model of neuropathic pain

2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP) ameliorates mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia produced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in mice, and selectively inhibits HCN1 channel gating. We hypothesized that the clinically utilized non-anesthetic dimerized congener of 2,6-DTBP, probucol (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-[2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfanylpropan-2-ylsulfanyl]phenol), would relieve the neuropathic phenotype that results from peripheral nerve damage, and that the anti-hyperalgesic efficacy in vivo would correlate with HCN1 channel inhibition in vitro. A single oral dose of probucol (800 mg/kg) relieved mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in a mouse spared-nerve injury neuropathic pain model. While the low aqueous solubility of probucol precluded assessment of its possible interaction with HCN1 channels, our results, in conjunction with recent data demonstrating that probucol reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, support the testing/development of probucol as a non-opioid, oral antihyperalgesic albeit one of unknown mechanistic action.

TMEM100 Regulates Neuropathic Pain by Reducing the Expression of Inflammatory Factors.

There is no effective treatment for peripheral nerve injury-induced chronic neuropathic pain (NP), which profoundly impacts the quality of life of those affected. Transmembraneprotein100 (TMEM100) is considered to be a pain regulatory protein and is expressed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rats. However, the mechanism of pain regulation and the expression of TMEM100 following various peripheral nerve injuries are unclear. In this study, we constructed two pain models of peripheral nerve injury: tibial nerve injury (TNI) and chronic constriction injury (CCI). This study found that the Paw Withdrawal Mechanical Threshold (PWMT) and Paw Withdraw Thermal Latency (PWTL) of the rats in the two pain models decreased significantly, and the expression of TMEM100 in the DRG of two groups also decreased significantly. Furthermore, the decrease in the CCI group was more obvious than in the TNI group. There was no significant statistical significance (P > 0.05). We constructed an adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) vector expressing recombinant fluorescent TMEM100 protein and injected it into the sciatic nerve (SN) of two pain models: CCI and TNI. PWMT and PWTL were significantly increased in the two groups, along with the expression of TMEM100 in the spinal cord and DRG. It also significantly inhibited the activation of microglia, astrocytes, and several inflammatory mediators (TNF- α, IL-1 β, and IL-6). In summary, the results of this study suggested that TMEM100 might be a promising molecular strategy for the treatment of NP, and its anti-inflammatory effects might play an important role in pain relief.

Ultrasonic visualization technique for anatomical and functional analyses of the sciatic nerve in rats.

Ultrasound has been widely used in the diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment of peripheral nerve diseases in the clinic, but there is still a lack of feasibility analysis in rodent models of neurological disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the cross-sectional area of the sciatic nerve of different genders and body weights and to explore the effectiveness and reliability of an ultrasound-guided block around the sciatic nerve in living rats. Using ultrasound imaging anatomy of the sciatic nerve of rats, the cross-sectional area of the sciatic nerve in rats of different genders from 6 to 10 weeks old was calculated, and then analyzed its correlation with body weight. Further analyses were conducted through behavioral and cadaveric studies to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided perineural injection of the sciatic nerve in rats. We first reported that the sciatic nerve cross-sectional area of rats was increased with age (F = 89.169, P < 0.001), males had a higher sciatic nerve cross-sectional area than females (F = 60.770, P < 0.001), and there was a positive correlation with body weight (rMale = 0.8976, P < 0.001; rFemale = 0.7733, P < 0.001). Behavioral observation of rats showed that the lower extremity complete block rate was 80% following the administration of drugs around the sciatic nerve under ultrasound guidance and staining with methylene blue occurred in all sciatic nerves and surrounding muscles and fascia using 20 ultrasound-guided injections. Ultrasound visualization technology can be used as a new auxiliary evaluation and intervention therapy for animal models of peripheral nerve injury, and will provide overwhelming new references for the basic research of neurological diseases.

Oxycodone withdrawal induces HDAC1/HDAC2-dependent transcriptional maladaptations in the reward pathway in a mouse model of peripheral nerve injury.

The development of physical dependence and addiction disorders due to misuse of opioid analgesics is a major concern with pain therapeutics. We developed a mouse model of oxycodone exposure and subsequent withdrawal in the presence or absence of chronic neuropathic pain. Oxycodone withdrawal alone triggered robust gene expression adaptations in the nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area, with numerous genes and pathways selectively affected by oxycodone withdrawal in mice with peripheral nerve injury. Pathway analysis predicted that histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 is a top upstream regulator in opioid withdrawal in nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex. The novel HDAC1/HDAC2 inhibitor, Regenacy Brain Class I HDAC Inhibitor (RBC1HI), attenuated behavioral manifestations of oxycodone withdrawal, especially in mice with neuropathic pain. These findings suggest that inhibition of HDAC1/HDAC2 may provide an avenue for patients with chronic pain who are dependent on opioids to transition to non-opioid analgesics.

Graphdiyne-loaded polycaprolactone nanofiber scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration

Graphdiyne (GDY) is a kind of nanomaterial from the graphene carbon family with excellent physical and chemical properties. Despite some applications in medical engineering, GDY has not been used as an electroactive scaffold for tissue regeneration because of its unclear in vitro and in vivo biosafety profiles. Here, a conductive GDY nanomaterial-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was prepared by electrospinning technique. For the first time, the biocompatibility of GDY-based scaffold was assessed at the cellular and animal levels in a peripheral nerve injury (PNI) model. The findings indicated that the conductive three-dimensional (3D) GDY/PCL nerve guide conduits (NGCs) could significantly improve the proliferation, adhesion and glial expression of Schwann cells (SCs). The conduits were implanted into a rat 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model for 3 months in vivo. The toxicity of scaffolds to the organs was negligible, while the GDY/PCL NGCs significantly promoted myelination and axonal growth by upregulating the expression levels of SC marker (S100 β protein), Myelin basic protein (MBP), and axon regeneration marker (β3-tubulin protein (Tuj1) and neurofilament protein 200 (NF200)). In addition, upregulation of vascular factor expression in GDY/PCL NGC group suggested the potential role in angiogenesis to improve nerve repair by GDY nanomaterials. Our findings provide new perspectives on biocompatibility and effectiveness of GDY nanomaterial scaffold in peripheral nerve regeneration for preclinical application.

Targeting Chondroitin Sulphate Synthase 1 (Chsy1) Promotes Axon Growth Following Neurorrhaphy by Suppressing Versican Accumulation.

Versican is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), which deposits in perineurium as a physical barrier and prevents the growth of axons out of the fascial boundary. Several studies have indicated that the chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains on versican have several possible functions beyond the physical barrier, including the ability to stabilize versican core protein in the extracellular matrix. As chondroitin sulfate synthase 1 (Chsy1) is a crucial enzyme for CS elongation, we hypothesized that in vivo knockdown of Chsy1 at peripheral nerve lesion site may decrease CS and versican accumulation, and result in accelerating neurite regeneration. In the present study, end-to-side neurorrhaphy (ESN) in Wistar rats was used as an in vivo model of peripheral nerve injury to evaluate nerve regeneration after surgical intervention. The distribution and expression of versican and Chsy1 in regenerating axons after ESN was studied using confocal microscopy and western blotting. Chsy1 was silenced at the nerve lesion (surgical) site using in vivo siRNA transfection. The results indicated that Chsy1 was successfully silenced in nerve tissue, and its downregulation was associated with functional recovery of compound muscle action potential. Silencing of Chsy1 also decreased the accumulation of versican core protein, suggesting that transient treating of Chsy1-siRNA may be an alternative and an effective strategy to promote injured peripheral nerve regeneration.

Inhibition of Schwann Cell Pyroptosis Promotes Nerve Regeneration in Peripheral Nerve Injury in Rats.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is one of the most debilitating injuries, but therapies for PNI are still far from satisfactory. Pyroptosis, a recently identified form of cell death, has been demonstrated to participate in different diseases. However, the role of pyroptosis of Schwann cells in PNI remains unclear. We established a rat PNI model, and western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining were used to confirm pyroptosis of Schwann cells in PNI in vivo. In vitro, pyroptosis of Schwann cells was induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS)+adenosine triphosphate disodium (ATP). An irreversible inhibitor of pyroptosis, acetyl (Ac)-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethyl ketone (Ac-YVAD-cmk), was used to attenuate Schwann cell pyroptosis. Moreover, the influence of pyroptotic Schwann cells on the function of dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGns) was analyzed by a coculture system. Finally, the rat PNI model was intraperitoneally treated with Ac-YVAD-cmk to observe the effect of pyroptosis on nerve regeneration and motor function. Schwann cell pyroptosis was notably observed in the injured sciatic nerve. LPS+ATP treatment effectively induced Schwann cell pyroptosis, which was largely attenuated by Ac-YVAD-cmk. Additionally, pyroptotic Schwann cells inhibited the function of DRGns by secreting inflammatory factors. A decrease in pyroptosis in Schwann cells promoted regeneration of the sciatic nerve and recovery of motor function in rats. Given the role of Schwann cell pyroptosis in PNI progression, inhibition of Schwann cell pyroptosis might be a potential therapeutic strategy for PNI in the future.