“Peripheral nerve injury”refers to damage or trauma affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Peripheral nerve injury results in movements or sensation impairments,and represents a serious public health pro...“Peripheral nerve injury”refers to damage or trauma affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Peripheral nerve injury results in movements or sensation impairments,and represents a serious public health problem.Although severed peripheral nerves have been effectively joined and various therapies have been offered,recovery of sensory or motor functions remains limited,and efficacious therapies for complete repair of a nerve injury remain elusive.The emerging field of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosome-based therapies hold promise for enhancing nerve regeneration and function.Mesenchymal stem cells,as large living cells responsive to the environment,secrete various factors and exosomes.The latter are nano-sized extracellular vesicles containing bioactive molecules such as proteins,microRNA,and messenger RNA derived from parent mesenchymal stem cells.Exosomes have pivotal roles in cell-to-cell communication and nervous tissue function,offering solutions to changes associated with cell-based therapies.Despite ongoing investigations,mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-based therapies are in the exploratory stage.A comprehensive review of the latest preclinical experiments and clinical trials is essential for deep understanding of therapeutic strategies and for facilitating clinical translation.This review initially explores current investigations of mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in peripheral nerve injury,exploring the underlying mechanisms.Subsequently,it provides an overview of the current status of mesenchymal stem cell and exosomebased therapies in clinical trials,followed by a comparative analysis of therapies utilizing mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes.Finally,the review addresses the limitations and challenges associated with use of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes,offering potential solutions and guiding future directions.展开更多
Our previous study found that rat bone marrow–derived neural crest cells(acting as Schwann cell progenitors)have the potential to promote long-distance nerve repair.Cell-based therapy can enhance peripheral nerve rep...Our previous study found that rat bone marrow–derived neural crest cells(acting as Schwann cell progenitors)have the potential to promote long-distance nerve repair.Cell-based therapy can enhance peripheral nerve repair and regeneration through paracrine bioactive factors and intercellular communication.Nevertheless,the complex contributions of various types of soluble cytokines and extracellular vesicle cargos to the secretome remain unclear.To investigate the role of the secretome and extracellular vesicles in repairing damaged peripheral nerves,we collected conditioned culture medium from hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells,and found that it significantly promoted the repair of sensory neurons damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation.The mRNA expression of trophic factors was highly expressed in hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells.We performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and found that miR-21-5p was enriched in hypoxia-pretreated extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells.Subsequently,to further clarify the role of hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles rich in miR-21-5p in axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons,we used a microfluidic axonal dissociation model of sensory neurons in vitro,and found that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles promoted axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons,which was greatly dependent on loaded miR-21-5p.Finally,we constructed a miR-21-5p-loaded neural conduit to repair the sciatic nerve defect in rats and found that the motor and sensory functions of injured rat hind limb,as well as muscle tissue morphology of the hind limbs,were obviously restored.These findings suggest that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest extracellular vesicles are natural nanoparticles rich in miRNA-21-5p.miRNA-21-5p is one of the main contributors to promoting nerve regeneration by the neural crest cell secretome.This helps to explain the mechanism of action of the secretome and extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells in repairing damaged peripheral nerves,and also promotes the application of miR-21-5p in tissue engineering regeneration medicine.展开更多
Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulat...Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulate axonal outgrowth and myelin regeneration.However,recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy in peripheral nerve regeneration,particularly in the context of traumatic injuries.Consequently,autophagy-targeting modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.Our current understanding suggests that activating autophagy facilitates the rapid clearance of damaged axons and myelin sheaths,thereby enhancing neuronal survival and mitigating injury-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.These actions collectively contribute to creating a favorable microenvironment for structural and functional nerve regeneration.A range of autophagyinducing drugs and interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects in alleviating peripheral neuropathy and promoting nerve regeneration in preclinical models of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries.This review delves into the regulation of autophagy in cell types involved in peripheral nerve regeneration,summarizing the potential drugs and interventions that can be harnessed to promote this process.We hope that our review will offer novel insights and perspectives on the exploitation of autophagy pathways in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes...Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.展开更多
FK506(Tacrolimus)is a systemic immunosuppressant approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.FK506 has been shown to promote peripheral nerve regeneration,however,its precise mechanism of action and its pathways ...FK506(Tacrolimus)is a systemic immunosuppressant approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.FK506 has been shown to promote peripheral nerve regeneration,however,its precise mechanism of action and its pathways remain unclear.In this study,we established a rat model of sciatic nerve injury and found that FK506 improved the morphology of the injured sciatic nerve,increased the numbers of motor and sensory neurons,reduced inflammatory responses,markedly improved the conduction function of the injured nerve,and promoted motor function recovery.These findings suggest that FK506 promotes peripheral nerve structure recovery and functional regeneration by reducing the intensity of inflammation after neuronal injury and increasing the number of surviving neurons.展开更多
Ischemia is a significant factor affecting the repair of peripheral nerve injuries,while exosomes have been shown to promote angiogenesis.To further investigate the detailed processes and efficacy of exosome thera⁃py ...Ischemia is a significant factor affecting the repair of peripheral nerve injuries,while exosomes have been shown to promote angiogenesis.To further investigate the detailed processes and efficacy of exosome thera⁃py for ischemic peripheral nerve injuries,this study utilized glucose-modified near-infrared-II(NIR-II)quantum dots(QDs)to label adipose-derived stem cell exosomes(QDs-ADSC-Exos),enabling long-term in vivo NIR-II imaging of exosome treatment for ischemic peripheral nerve damage.Experimental results confirmed that QDs can be used for non-invasive in vitro labeling of exosomes,with QDs-ADSC-Exos exhibiting strong fluorescence signals in the NIR-II window and demonstrating favorable NIR-II imaging characteristics in vivo.Notably,QDsADSC-Exos showed accumulation at the site of nerve injury in cases of ischemic peripheral nerve damage.Func⁃tional neurological assessments indicated that QDs-ADSC-Exos effectively promoted neural regeneration.This study highlights the potential of exosomes in treating ischemic peripheral nerve injuries and elucidates the spatio⁃temporal characteristics of exosome therapy,providing objective evidence for the further optimization of exosomebased treatment protocols.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injury(PNI)is a common disease that is difficult to nerve regeneration with current therapies.Fortunately,Zou et al demonstrated the role and mechanism of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(BM...Peripheral nerve injury(PNI)is a common disease that is difficult to nerve regeneration with current therapies.Fortunately,Zou et al demonstrated the role and mechanism of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)in promoting nerve regeneration,revealing broad prospects for BMSCs trans-plantation in alleviating PNI.We confirmed the fact that BMSCs significantly alleviate PNI,but there are shortcomings such as low cell survival rate and immune rejection,which limit the wide application of BMSCs.BMSCs-derived exosomes(Exos)are considered as a promising cell-free nanomedicine for PNI,avoiding the ethical issues of BMSCs.Exos in combination with bioengineering therapeutics(including extracellular matrix,hydrogel)brings new hope for PNI,provides a favorable microenvironment for neurological restoration and a therapeutic strategy with a favorable safety profile,significantly increases ex-pression of neurotrophic factors,promotes axonal and myelin regeneration,and demonstrates a strong potential to enhance neurogenesis.Therefore,engineered Exos exhibit better properties,such as stronger targeting and more beneficial components.This article briefly describes the role of nanotechnology and bioe-ngineering therapies for BMSCs in PNI,proposes clinical application prospects and challenges of nanotechnology and bioengineering BMSCs-derived Exos in PNI to improve the efficacy of BMSCs in the treatment of PNI.展开更多
The gut microbiota:The human body is colonized by a diverse and complex microbial community–including bacteria,viruses,archaea,and unicellular eukaryotes–that plays a central role in human wellbeing.Indeed,microbiot...The gut microbiota:The human body is colonized by a diverse and complex microbial community–including bacteria,viruses,archaea,and unicellular eukaryotes–that plays a central role in human wellbeing.Indeed,microbiota is crucial for several functions,including host metabolism,physiology,maintenance of the intestinal epithelial integrity,nutrition,and immune function,earning it the designation of a“vital organ”(Guinane and Cotter,2013).展开更多
Background: Peripheral nerve regeneration is a critical research area with significant implications for neurology,neurosurgery,and regenerative medicine.A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide a structured ov...Background: Peripheral nerve regeneration is a critical research area with significant implications for neurology,neurosurgery,and regenerative medicine.A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide a structured overview of research trends,intellectual impact,and evolving themes in peripheral nerve regeneration.This study aimed to identify the most influential research articles on peripheral nerve regeneration;analyze keyword trends,thematic evolution,and co-word structures;assess the contributions of top authors,universities,and countries;and examine collaboration networks and research dynamics.Methods: A systematic bibliometric approach was employed using two search strategies.The first strategy involved searching within the title,abstract,and keyword fields,yielding 15 317 papers,whereas the second strategy was restricted to searching titles only,retrieving 3 531 papers.From these,the 100 most cited papers were selected for analysis.A thematic analysis was conducted using co-word clustering.The leading contributors were ranked according to the number of publications,citations,h-index,g-index,and m-index.Results: The bibliometric analysis provided several key insights.Keyword analysis using bi-and tri-gram techniques revealed the dominant research themes within the field.The top contributors,including authors,universities,and countries,were ranked based on their productivity and citation impact.Collaboration networks were mapped at the author,institutional,and country levels,highlighting key partnerships and global research interactions.Thematic analysis classified research into seven major domains: neural regeneration and repair;cellular and molecular biology;biomaterials and tissue engineering;experimental studies and statistical analyses;functional and therapeutic aspects;neuropathic pain and peripheral nerve disorders;and Schwann cell and cellular responses.Additionally,the ten most influential papers were reviewed in detail to understand their contributions to the field.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive and structured overview of peripheral nerve regeneration research.These findings offer valuable insights into the intellectual foundation of the field by identifying key contributors,research trends,and collaboration patterns.The results serve as a guide for future research,helping researchers to navigate the evolving landscape of peripheral nerve regeneration.展开更多
Schwann cells and macrophages are the main immune cells involved in peripheral nerve injury.After injury,Schwann cells produce an inflammatory response and secrete various chemokines,inflammatory factors,and some othe...Schwann cells and macrophages are the main immune cells involved in peripheral nerve injury.After injury,Schwann cells produce an inflammatory response and secrete various chemokines,inflammatory factors,and some other cytokines to promote the recruitment and M2 polarization of blood-derived macrophages,enhancing their phagocytotic ability,and thus play an important role in promoting nerve regeneration.Macrophages have also been found to promote vascular regeneration after injury,promote the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells along blood vessels,and facilitate myelination and axon regeneration.Therefore,there is a close interaction between Schwann cells and macrophages during peripheral nerve regeneration,but this has not been systematically summarized.In this review,the mechanisms of action of Schwann cells and macrophages in each other's migration and phenotypic transformation are reviewed from the perspective of each other,to provide directions for research on accelerating nerve injury repair.展开更多
Objective:Treating peripheral nerve injury(PNI)presents a clinical challenge due to limited axon regeneration.Strychni Semen,a traditional Chinese medicine,is clinically used for numbness and hemiplegia.However,its ro...Objective:Treating peripheral nerve injury(PNI)presents a clinical challenge due to limited axon regeneration.Strychni Semen,a traditional Chinese medicine,is clinically used for numbness and hemiplegia.However,its role in promoting functional recovery after PNI and the related mechanisms have not yet been systematically studied.Methods:A mouse model of sciatic nerve crush(SNC)injury was established and the mice received drug treatment via intragastric gavage,followed by behavioral assessments(adhesive removal test,hot-plate test and Von Frey test).Transcriptomic analyses were performed to examine gene expression in the dorsal root ganglia(DRGs)from the third to the sixth lumbar vertebrae,so as to identify the significantly differentially expressed genes.Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess the expression levels of superior cervical ganglia neural-specific 10 protein(SCG10).The ultra-trace protein detection technique was used to evaluate changes in gene expression levels.Results:Strychni Semen and its active compounds(brucine and strychnine)improved functional recovery in mice following SNC injury.Transcriptomic data indicated that Strychni Semen and its active compounds initiated transcriptional reprogramming that impacted cellular morphology and extracellular matrix remodeling in DRGs after SNC,suggesting potential roles in promoting axon regeneration.Imaging data further confirmed that Strychni Semen and its active compounds facilitated axon regrowth in SNC-injured mice.By integrating protein–protein interaction predictions,ultra-trace protein detection,and molecular docking analysis,we identified myeloperoxidase as a potentially critical factor in the axon regenerative effects conferred by Strychni Semen and its active compounds.Conclusion:Strychni Semen and its active compounds enhance sensory function by promoting axonal regeneration after PNI.These findings establish a foundation for the future applications of Strychni Semen and highlight novel therapeutic strategies and drug targets for axon regeneration.展开更多
Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility of repairing nerve defects through acellular allogeneic nerve grafting with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.However,adult tissue–derived mesenchymal stem cells en...Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility of repairing nerve defects through acellular allogeneic nerve grafting with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.However,adult tissue–derived mesenchymal stem cells encounter various obstacles,including limited tissue sources,invasive acquisition methods,cellular heterogeneity,purification challenges,cellular senescence,and diminished pluripotency and proliferation over successive passages.In this study,we used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells,known for their self-renewal capacity,multilineage differentiation potential,and immunomodulatory characteristics.We used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells in conjunction with acellular nerve allografts to address a 10 mm-long defect in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.Our findings reveal that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells exhibit survival for up to 17 days in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury with acellular nerve allograft transplantation.Furthermore,the combination of acellular nerve allograft and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly accelerates the regeneration of injured axons and improves behavioral function recovery in rats.Additionally,our in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells play a pivotal role in promoting neovascularization.Collectively,our results suggest the potential of acellular nerve allografts with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells to augment nerve regeneration in rats,offering promising therapeutic strategies for clinical translation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Increased blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels have been demonstrated to be associated with broader metabolic disturbances and the incidence of type 2 diabetes(T2D),potentially playing a role in the development o...BACKGROUND Increased blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels have been demonstrated to be associated with broader metabolic disturbances and the incidence of type 2 diabetes(T2D),potentially playing a role in the development of diabetic complications,including diabetic peripheral neuropathy.AIM To examine the relationship between BUN levels and peripheral nerve function in patients with T2D.METHODS This observational study involved the systematic recruitment of 585 patients with T2D for whom BUN levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate were measured.Electromyography was used to assess peripheral motor and sensory nerve function in all patients,and overall composite Z-scores were subsequently calculated for nerve latency,amplitude,and conduction velocity(NCV)across the median,ulnar,common peroneal,posterior tibial,superficial peroneal,and sural nerves.RESULTS Across the quartiles of BUN levels,the overall composite Z-score for latency(F=38.996,P for trend<0.001)showed a significant increasing trend,whereas the overall composite Z-scores for amplitude(F=50.972,P for trend<0.001)and NCV(F=30.636,P for trend<0.001)exhibited a significant decreasing trend.Moreover,the BUN levels were closely correlated with the latency,amplitude,and NCV of each peripheral nerve.Furthermore,multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that elevated BUN levels were linked to a higher overall composite Z-score for latency(β=0.166,t=3.864,P<0.001)and lower overall composite Z-scores for amplitude(β=-0.184,t=-4.577,P<0.001)and NCV(β=-0.117,t=-2.787,P=0.006)independent of the estimated glomerular filtration rate and other clinical covariates.Additionally,when the analysis was restricted to sensory or motor nerves,elevated BUN levels remained associated with sensory or motor peripheral nerve dysfunction.CONCLUSION Increased BUN levels were independently associated with compromised peripheral nerve function in patients with T2D.展开更多
Neurovascularization serves as the prerequisite and assurance for fostering neurogenesis after peripheral nerve injury(PNI),not only contributing to the reconstruction of the regenerative neurovascular niche but also ...Neurovascularization serves as the prerequisite and assurance for fostering neurogenesis after peripheral nerve injury(PNI),not only contributing to the reconstruction of the regenerative neurovascular niche but also providing a surface and directionality for Schwann cell(SC)cords migration and axons elongation.Despite the development of nerve tissue engineering techniques has drawn increasing attention to the intervention approach for repairing nerve defects,systematic generalization summary of the efficient intervention to expedite nerve angiogenesis is still scarce.This review delves into the mechanisms by which macrophages within the nerve defect trigger angiogenesis after PNI and elucidates how the newborn vessels support nerve regeneration,and then extracts three major categories of strategies for producing vascularized nerves in vitro and in vivo from them,encompassing(1)in vitro prevascularization,(2)in vivo prevascularization,and(3)stimulation of neurovascularization in situ.Furthermore,we emphasize that the lack of accuracy for structure and spatiotemporal regulation,as well as the operational inconvenience and delayed connection to the host's nerve stumps,have stuck the existing neurovascularization technology in the preclinical stage.The successful design of a future prospective clinical vascularized nerve scaffold should be guided by a comprehensive consideration of these aspects.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injury causes severe neuroinflammation and has become a global medical challenge.Previous research has demonstrated that porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel exhibits excellent biological prop...Peripheral nerve injury causes severe neuroinflammation and has become a global medical challenge.Previous research has demonstrated that porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel exhibits excellent biological properties and tissue specificity,highlighting its potential as a biomedical material for the repair of severe peripheral nerve injury;however,its role in modulating neuroinflammation post-peripheral nerve injury remains unknown.Here,we aimed to characterize the anti-inflammatory properties of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel and their underlying molecular mechanisms.Using peripheral nerve injury model rats treated with porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel,we evaluated structural and functional recovery,macrophage phenotype alteration,specific cytokine expression,and changes in related signaling molecules in vivo.Similar parameters were evaluated in vitro using monocyte/macrophage cell lines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and cultured on porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel-coated plates in complete medium.These comprehensive analyses revealed that porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel attenuated the activation of excessive inflammation at the early stage of peripheral nerve injury and increased the proportion of the M2 subtype in monocytes/macrophages.Additionally,porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel negatively regulated the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB axis both in vivo and in vitro.Our findings suggest that the efficacious anti-inflammatory properties of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel induce M2 macrophage polarization via suppression of the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB pathway,providing new insights into the therapeutic mechanism of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel in peripheral nerve injury.展开更多
Nerve guidance conduits(NGCs)effectively support and guide the regeneration of injured nerves.However,traditional NGCs often lack essential growth factors and fail to create a biomimetic microenvironment conducive to ...Nerve guidance conduits(NGCs)effectively support and guide the regeneration of injured nerves.However,traditional NGCs often lack essential growth factors and fail to create a biomimetic microenvironment conducive to nerve regrowth.This study develops a highly bionic nerve guidance conduit(HB-NGC)using hybrid high-voltage electrotechnologies that integrate electrospinning with electrohydrodynamic(EHD)printing.The outer layer consists of electrospun polycaprolactone fibers loaded with carboxyl-multi-walled carbon nanotubes,while the inner layer is composed of highly aligned polycaprolactone fibers created by EHD printing.The tubular core of the HB-NGC is filled with hyaluronic acid methacryloyl(HAMA)hydrogel encapsulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).This highly biomimetic NGC is conductive,capable of guiding axon growth,and sustainably releases growth factors,effectively mimicking the structure,function,and characteristics of natural peripheral nerves.Its distinctive architectural layers provide an exceptional bionic microenvironment by restoring physical pathways,facilitating electrical signal conduction,and supplying an extracellular matrix(ECM)environment enriched with essential growth factors.Additionally,the HB-NGC’s morphology,along with its physicochemical and mechanical properties,effectively bridges the gap between severed nerve ends.In vivo animal studies validate the HB-NGC’s effectiveness,highlighting its significant potential to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.展开更多
Macrophages play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration,but the specific mechanism of regeneration is still unclear.Our preliminary findings indicated that neutrophil peptide 1 is an innate immune peptide ...Macrophages play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration,but the specific mechanism of regeneration is still unclear.Our preliminary findings indicated that neutrophil peptide 1 is an innate immune peptide closely involved in peripheral nerve regeneration.However,the mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances nerve regeneration remains unclear.This study was designed to investigate the relationship between neutrophil peptide 1 and macrophages in vivo and in vitro in peripheral nerve crush injury.The functions of RAW 264.7 cells we re elucidated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay,flow cytometry,migration assays,phagocytosis assays,immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Axonal debris phagocytosis was observed using the CUBIC(Clear,Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis)optical clearing technique during Wallerian degeneration.Macrophage inflammatory factor expression in different polarization states was detected using a protein chip.The results showed that neutrophil peptide 1 promoted the prolife ration,migration and phagocytosis of macrophages,and CD206 expression on the surfa ce of macrophages,indicating M2 polarization.The axonal debris clearance rate during Wallerian degeneration was enhanced after neutrophil peptide 1 intervention.Neutrophil peptide 1 also downregulated inflammatory factors interleukin-1α,-6,-12,and tumor necrosis factor-αin invo and in vitro.Thus,the results suggest that neutrophil peptide 1 activates macrophages and accelerates Wallerian degeneration,which may be one mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances peripheral nerve regeneration.展开更多
Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate.Howeve r,it is unclear what factors play a role in this process.In this study,we searched a GEO database and foun...Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate.Howeve r,it is unclear what factors play a role in this process.In this study,we searched a GEO database and found that expression of platelet factor 4 was markedly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury.Platelet factor is an important molecule in cell apoptosis,diffe rentiation,survival,and proliferation.Further,polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the change in platelet factor 4 in the sciatic nerve at different time points after injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that platelet factor 4 was secreted by Schwann cells.We also found that silencing platelet factor 4 decreased the proliferation and migration of primary cultured Schwann cells,while exogenously applied platelet factor 4 stimulated Schwann cell prolife ration and migration and neuronal axon growth.Furthermore,knocking out platelet factor 4 inhibited the prolife ration of Schwann cells in injured rat sciatic nerve.These findings suggest that Schwann cell-secreted platelet factor 4 may facilitate peripheral nerve repair and regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon growth.Thus,platelet factor 4 may be a potential therapeutic target for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.展开更多
Injuries caused by trauma and neurodegenerative diseases can damage the peripheral nervous system and cause functional deficits.Unlike in the central nervous system,damaged axons in peripheral nerves can be induced to...Injuries caused by trauma and neurodegenerative diseases can damage the peripheral nervous system and cause functional deficits.Unlike in the central nervous system,damaged axons in peripheral nerves can be induced to regenerate in response to intrinsic cues after reprogramming or in a growth-promoting microenvironment created by Schwann cells.However,axon regeneration and repair do not automatically result in the restoration of function,which is the ultimate therapeutic goal but also a major clinical challenge.Transforming growth factor(TGF)is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates various biological processes including tissue repair,embryo development,and cell growth and differentiation.There is accumulating evidence that TGF-βfamily proteins participate in peripheral nerve repair through various factors and signaling pathways by regulating the growth and transformation of Schwann cells;recruiting specific immune cells;controlling the permeability of the blood-nerve barrier,thereby stimulating axon growth;and inhibiting remyelination of regenerated axons.TGF-βhas been applied to the treatment of peripheral nerve injury in animal models.In this context,we review the functions of TGF-βin peripheral nerve regeneration and potential clinical applications.展开更多
Complete transverse injury of peripheral nerves is challenging to treat.Exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are considered to play an important role in intercellular communication and regu...Complete transverse injury of peripheral nerves is challenging to treat.Exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are considered to play an important role in intercellular communication and regulate tissue regeneration.In previous studies,a collagen/hyaluronic acid sponge was shown to provide a suitable regeneration environment for Schwann cell proliferation and to promote axonal regeneration.This three-dimensional(3D)composite conduit contains a collagen/hyaluronic acid inner sponge enclosed in an electrospun hollow poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)tube.However,whether there is a synergy between the 3D composite conduit and exosomes in the repair of peripheral nerve injury remains unknown.In this study,we tested a comprehensive strategy for repairing long-gap(10 mm)peripheral nerve injury that combined the 3D composite conduit with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes.Repair effectiveness was evaluated by sciatic functional index,sciatic nerve compound muscle action potential recording,recovery of muscle mass,measuring the cross-sectional area of the muscle fiber,Masson trichrome staining,and transmission electron microscopy of the regenerated nerve in rats.The results showed that transplantation of the 3D composite conduit loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promoted peripheral nerve regeneration and restoration of motor function,similar to autograft transplantation.More CD31-positive endothelial cells were observed in the regenerated nerve after transplantation of the loaded conduit than after transplantation of the conduit without exosomes,which may have contributed to the observed increase in axon regeneration and distal nerve reconnection.Therefore,the use of a 3D composite conduit loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes represents a promising cell-free therapeutic option for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Hubei Province of China,2022BCA028(to HC)。
文摘“Peripheral nerve injury”refers to damage or trauma affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Peripheral nerve injury results in movements or sensation impairments,and represents a serious public health problem.Although severed peripheral nerves have been effectively joined and various therapies have been offered,recovery of sensory or motor functions remains limited,and efficacious therapies for complete repair of a nerve injury remain elusive.The emerging field of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosome-based therapies hold promise for enhancing nerve regeneration and function.Mesenchymal stem cells,as large living cells responsive to the environment,secrete various factors and exosomes.The latter are nano-sized extracellular vesicles containing bioactive molecules such as proteins,microRNA,and messenger RNA derived from parent mesenchymal stem cells.Exosomes have pivotal roles in cell-to-cell communication and nervous tissue function,offering solutions to changes associated with cell-based therapies.Despite ongoing investigations,mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-based therapies are in the exploratory stage.A comprehensive review of the latest preclinical experiments and clinical trials is essential for deep understanding of therapeutic strategies and for facilitating clinical translation.This review initially explores current investigations of mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in peripheral nerve injury,exploring the underlying mechanisms.Subsequently,it provides an overview of the current status of mesenchymal stem cell and exosomebased therapies in clinical trials,followed by a comparative analysis of therapies utilizing mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes.Finally,the review addresses the limitations and challenges associated with use of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes,offering potential solutions and guiding future directions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31870977(to HYS)the National Key Technologies Research and Development Program of China,No.2017YFA0104700(to FD)+2 种基金2022 Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent(to MC)Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions[PAPD]the Major Project of Basic Science(Natural Science)Research in Higher Education Institutions of Jiangsu Province,No.22KJA180001(to QRH)。
文摘Our previous study found that rat bone marrow–derived neural crest cells(acting as Schwann cell progenitors)have the potential to promote long-distance nerve repair.Cell-based therapy can enhance peripheral nerve repair and regeneration through paracrine bioactive factors and intercellular communication.Nevertheless,the complex contributions of various types of soluble cytokines and extracellular vesicle cargos to the secretome remain unclear.To investigate the role of the secretome and extracellular vesicles in repairing damaged peripheral nerves,we collected conditioned culture medium from hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells,and found that it significantly promoted the repair of sensory neurons damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation.The mRNA expression of trophic factors was highly expressed in hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cells.We performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and found that miR-21-5p was enriched in hypoxia-pretreated extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells.Subsequently,to further clarify the role of hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles rich in miR-21-5p in axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons,we used a microfluidic axonal dissociation model of sensory neurons in vitro,and found that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest cell extracellular vesicles promoted axonal growth and regeneration of sensory neurons,which was greatly dependent on loaded miR-21-5p.Finally,we constructed a miR-21-5p-loaded neural conduit to repair the sciatic nerve defect in rats and found that the motor and sensory functions of injured rat hind limb,as well as muscle tissue morphology of the hind limbs,were obviously restored.These findings suggest that hypoxia-pretreated neural crest extracellular vesicles are natural nanoparticles rich in miRNA-21-5p.miRNA-21-5p is one of the main contributors to promoting nerve regeneration by the neural crest cell secretome.This helps to explain the mechanism of action of the secretome and extracellular vesicles of neural crest cells in repairing damaged peripheral nerves,and also promotes the application of miR-21-5p in tissue engineering regeneration medicine.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82271411(to RG),51803072(to WLiu)grants from the Department of Finance of Jilin Province,Nos.2022SCZ25(to RG),2022SCZ10(to WLiu),2021SCZ07(to RG)+2 种基金Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Program,No.YDZJ202201ZYTS038(to WLiu)The Youth Support Programmed Project of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University,No.2022qnpy11(to WLuo)The Project of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University,No.XHQMX20233(to RG)。
文摘Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulate axonal outgrowth and myelin regeneration.However,recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy in peripheral nerve regeneration,particularly in the context of traumatic injuries.Consequently,autophagy-targeting modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.Our current understanding suggests that activating autophagy facilitates the rapid clearance of damaged axons and myelin sheaths,thereby enhancing neuronal survival and mitigating injury-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.These actions collectively contribute to creating a favorable microenvironment for structural and functional nerve regeneration.A range of autophagyinducing drugs and interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects in alleviating peripheral neuropathy and promoting nerve regeneration in preclinical models of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries.This review delves into the regulation of autophagy in cell types involved in peripheral nerve regeneration,summarizing the potential drugs and interventions that can be harnessed to promote this process.We hope that our review will offer novel insights and perspectives on the exploitation of autophagy pathways in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(General Program),Nos.23JCYBJC01390(to RL),22JCYBJC00220(to XC),and 22JCYBJC00210(to QL).
文摘Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurological condition that often leads to severe functional limitations and disabilities.Research on the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injury has focused on pathological changes at individual injury sites,neglecting multilevel pathological analysis of the overall nervous system and target organs.This has led to restrictions on current therapeutic approaches.In this paper,we first summarize the potential mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury from a holistic perspective,covering the central nervous system,peripheral nervous system,and target organs.After peripheral nerve injury,the cortical plasticity of the brain is altered due to damage to and regeneration of peripheral nerves;changes such as neuronal apoptosis and axonal demyelination occur in the spinal cord.The nerve will undergo axonal regeneration,activation of Schwann cells,inflammatory response,and vascular system regeneration at the injury site.Corresponding damage to target organs can occur,including skeletal muscle atrophy and sensory receptor disruption.We then provide a brief review of the research advances in therapeutic approaches to peripheral nerve injury.The main current treatments are conducted passively and include physical factor rehabilitation,pharmacological treatments,cell-based therapies,and physical exercise.However,most treatments only partially address the problem and cannot complete the systematic recovery of the entire central nervous system-peripheral nervous system-target organ pathway.Therefore,we should further explore multilevel treatment options that produce effective,long-lasting results,perhaps requiring a combination of passive(traditional)and active(novel)treatment methods to stimulate rehabilitation at the central-peripheral-target organ levels to achieve better functional recovery.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81971177(to YK)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7222198(to NH)the Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Fund,No.RDX2021-01(to YK)。
文摘FK506(Tacrolimus)is a systemic immunosuppressant approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.FK506 has been shown to promote peripheral nerve regeneration,however,its precise mechanism of action and its pathways remain unclear.In this study,we established a rat model of sciatic nerve injury and found that FK506 improved the morphology of the injured sciatic nerve,increased the numbers of motor and sensory neurons,reduced inflammatory responses,markedly improved the conduction function of the injured nerve,and promoted motor function recovery.These findings suggest that FK506 promotes peripheral nerve structure recovery and functional regeneration by reducing the intensity of inflammation after neuronal injury and increasing the number of surviving neurons.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82371373,W2412120)the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation(21ZR1436100).
文摘Ischemia is a significant factor affecting the repair of peripheral nerve injuries,while exosomes have been shown to promote angiogenesis.To further investigate the detailed processes and efficacy of exosome thera⁃py for ischemic peripheral nerve injuries,this study utilized glucose-modified near-infrared-II(NIR-II)quantum dots(QDs)to label adipose-derived stem cell exosomes(QDs-ADSC-Exos),enabling long-term in vivo NIR-II imaging of exosome treatment for ischemic peripheral nerve damage.Experimental results confirmed that QDs can be used for non-invasive in vitro labeling of exosomes,with QDs-ADSC-Exos exhibiting strong fluorescence signals in the NIR-II window and demonstrating favorable NIR-II imaging characteristics in vivo.Notably,QDsADSC-Exos showed accumulation at the site of nerve injury in cases of ischemic peripheral nerve damage.Func⁃tional neurological assessments indicated that QDs-ADSC-Exos effectively promoted neural regeneration.This study highlights the potential of exosomes in treating ischemic peripheral nerve injuries and elucidates the spatio⁃temporal characteristics of exosome therapy,providing objective evidence for the further optimization of exosomebased treatment protocols.
基金Supported by the Tianjin Graduate Research Innovation Project&TUTCM Graduate Research Innovation Project,No.YJSKC-20231012.
文摘Peripheral nerve injury(PNI)is a common disease that is difficult to nerve regeneration with current therapies.Fortunately,Zou et al demonstrated the role and mechanism of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)in promoting nerve regeneration,revealing broad prospects for BMSCs trans-plantation in alleviating PNI.We confirmed the fact that BMSCs significantly alleviate PNI,but there are shortcomings such as low cell survival rate and immune rejection,which limit the wide application of BMSCs.BMSCs-derived exosomes(Exos)are considered as a promising cell-free nanomedicine for PNI,avoiding the ethical issues of BMSCs.Exos in combination with bioengineering therapeutics(including extracellular matrix,hydrogel)brings new hope for PNI,provides a favorable microenvironment for neurological restoration and a therapeutic strategy with a favorable safety profile,significantly increases ex-pression of neurotrophic factors,promotes axonal and myelin regeneration,and demonstrates a strong potential to enhance neurogenesis.Therefore,engineered Exos exhibit better properties,such as stronger targeting and more beneficial components.This article briefly describes the role of nanotechnology and bioe-ngineering therapies for BMSCs in PNI,proposes clinical application prospects and challenges of nanotechnology and bioengineering BMSCs-derived Exos in PNI to improve the efficacy of BMSCs in the treatment of PNI.
基金supported by the European Union-Next Generation EU,Mission 4 Component 1,Project Title:“Gut and Neuro Muscular system:investigating the impact of microbiota on nerve regeneration and muscle reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury”,CUP D53D23007770006,MUR:20227YB93W,to GR。
文摘The gut microbiota:The human body is colonized by a diverse and complex microbial community–including bacteria,viruses,archaea,and unicellular eukaryotes–that plays a central role in human wellbeing.Indeed,microbiota is crucial for several functions,including host metabolism,physiology,maintenance of the intestinal epithelial integrity,nutrition,and immune function,earning it the designation of a“vital organ”(Guinane and Cotter,2013).
文摘Background: Peripheral nerve regeneration is a critical research area with significant implications for neurology,neurosurgery,and regenerative medicine.A bibliometric analysis was conducted to provide a structured overview of research trends,intellectual impact,and evolving themes in peripheral nerve regeneration.This study aimed to identify the most influential research articles on peripheral nerve regeneration;analyze keyword trends,thematic evolution,and co-word structures;assess the contributions of top authors,universities,and countries;and examine collaboration networks and research dynamics.Methods: A systematic bibliometric approach was employed using two search strategies.The first strategy involved searching within the title,abstract,and keyword fields,yielding 15 317 papers,whereas the second strategy was restricted to searching titles only,retrieving 3 531 papers.From these,the 100 most cited papers were selected for analysis.A thematic analysis was conducted using co-word clustering.The leading contributors were ranked according to the number of publications,citations,h-index,g-index,and m-index.Results: The bibliometric analysis provided several key insights.Keyword analysis using bi-and tri-gram techniques revealed the dominant research themes within the field.The top contributors,including authors,universities,and countries,were ranked based on their productivity and citation impact.Collaboration networks were mapped at the author,institutional,and country levels,highlighting key partnerships and global research interactions.Thematic analysis classified research into seven major domains: neural regeneration and repair;cellular and molecular biology;biomaterials and tissue engineering;experimental studies and statistical analyses;functional and therapeutic aspects;neuropathic pain and peripheral nerve disorders;and Schwann cell and cellular responses.Additionally,the ten most influential papers were reviewed in detail to understand their contributions to the field.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive and structured overview of peripheral nerve regeneration research.These findings offer valuable insights into the intellectual foundation of the field by identifying key contributors,research trends,and collaboration patterns.The results serve as a guide for future research,helping researchers to navigate the evolving landscape of peripheral nerve regeneration.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China(81072398).
文摘Schwann cells and macrophages are the main immune cells involved in peripheral nerve injury.After injury,Schwann cells produce an inflammatory response and secrete various chemokines,inflammatory factors,and some other cytokines to promote the recruitment and M2 polarization of blood-derived macrophages,enhancing their phagocytotic ability,and thus play an important role in promoting nerve regeneration.Macrophages have also been found to promote vascular regeneration after injury,promote the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells along blood vessels,and facilitate myelination and axon regeneration.Therefore,there is a close interaction between Schwann cells and macrophages during peripheral nerve regeneration,but this has not been systematically summarized.In this review,the mechanisms of action of Schwann cells and macrophages in each other's migration and phenotypic transformation are reviewed from the perspective of each other,to provide directions for research on accelerating nerve injury repair.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82474420,No.82273903)。
文摘Objective:Treating peripheral nerve injury(PNI)presents a clinical challenge due to limited axon regeneration.Strychni Semen,a traditional Chinese medicine,is clinically used for numbness and hemiplegia.However,its role in promoting functional recovery after PNI and the related mechanisms have not yet been systematically studied.Methods:A mouse model of sciatic nerve crush(SNC)injury was established and the mice received drug treatment via intragastric gavage,followed by behavioral assessments(adhesive removal test,hot-plate test and Von Frey test).Transcriptomic analyses were performed to examine gene expression in the dorsal root ganglia(DRGs)from the third to the sixth lumbar vertebrae,so as to identify the significantly differentially expressed genes.Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess the expression levels of superior cervical ganglia neural-specific 10 protein(SCG10).The ultra-trace protein detection technique was used to evaluate changes in gene expression levels.Results:Strychni Semen and its active compounds(brucine and strychnine)improved functional recovery in mice following SNC injury.Transcriptomic data indicated that Strychni Semen and its active compounds initiated transcriptional reprogramming that impacted cellular morphology and extracellular matrix remodeling in DRGs after SNC,suggesting potential roles in promoting axon regeneration.Imaging data further confirmed that Strychni Semen and its active compounds facilitated axon regrowth in SNC-injured mice.By integrating protein–protein interaction predictions,ultra-trace protein detection,and molecular docking analysis,we identified myeloperoxidase as a potentially critical factor in the axon regenerative effects conferred by Strychni Semen and its active compounds.Conclusion:Strychni Semen and its active compounds enhance sensory function by promoting axonal regeneration after PNI.These findings establish a foundation for the future applications of Strychni Semen and highlight novel therapeutic strategies and drug targets for axon regeneration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32171356(to YW)Self-Support Research Projects of Shihezi University,No.ZZZC2021105(to WJ)+1 种基金Capital Medical University Natural Science Cultivation Fund,No.PYZ23044(to FQM)Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,No.7244410(to JHD)。
文摘Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility of repairing nerve defects through acellular allogeneic nerve grafting with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.However,adult tissue–derived mesenchymal stem cells encounter various obstacles,including limited tissue sources,invasive acquisition methods,cellular heterogeneity,purification challenges,cellular senescence,and diminished pluripotency and proliferation over successive passages.In this study,we used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells,known for their self-renewal capacity,multilineage differentiation potential,and immunomodulatory characteristics.We used induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells in conjunction with acellular nerve allografts to address a 10 mm-long defect in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.Our findings reveal that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells exhibit survival for up to 17 days in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury with acellular nerve allograft transplantation.Furthermore,the combination of acellular nerve allograft and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells significantly accelerates the regeneration of injured axons and improves behavioral function recovery in rats.Additionally,our in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells play a pivotal role in promoting neovascularization.Collectively,our results suggest the potential of acellular nerve allografts with induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells to augment nerve regeneration in rats,offering promising therapeutic strategies for clinical translation.
基金Supported by the Social Development Projects of Nantong,No.MS12019019,No.HS2022004 and No.MS2023083the Medical Research Project of the Jiangsu Health Commission,No.Z2022058the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32101027。
文摘BACKGROUND Increased blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels have been demonstrated to be associated with broader metabolic disturbances and the incidence of type 2 diabetes(T2D),potentially playing a role in the development of diabetic complications,including diabetic peripheral neuropathy.AIM To examine the relationship between BUN levels and peripheral nerve function in patients with T2D.METHODS This observational study involved the systematic recruitment of 585 patients with T2D for whom BUN levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate were measured.Electromyography was used to assess peripheral motor and sensory nerve function in all patients,and overall composite Z-scores were subsequently calculated for nerve latency,amplitude,and conduction velocity(NCV)across the median,ulnar,common peroneal,posterior tibial,superficial peroneal,and sural nerves.RESULTS Across the quartiles of BUN levels,the overall composite Z-score for latency(F=38.996,P for trend<0.001)showed a significant increasing trend,whereas the overall composite Z-scores for amplitude(F=50.972,P for trend<0.001)and NCV(F=30.636,P for trend<0.001)exhibited a significant decreasing trend.Moreover,the BUN levels were closely correlated with the latency,amplitude,and NCV of each peripheral nerve.Furthermore,multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that elevated BUN levels were linked to a higher overall composite Z-score for latency(β=0.166,t=3.864,P<0.001)and lower overall composite Z-scores for amplitude(β=-0.184,t=-4.577,P<0.001)and NCV(β=-0.117,t=-2.787,P=0.006)independent of the estimated glomerular filtration rate and other clinical covariates.Additionally,when the analysis was restricted to sensory or motor nerves,elevated BUN levels remained associated with sensory or motor peripheral nerve dysfunction.CONCLUSION Increased BUN levels were independently associated with compromised peripheral nerve function in patients with T2D.
基金financially supported by the following programs:National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2023YFB3813003)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82430031,82122014,82071085)+1 种基金Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LR21H140001)the Central Universities(No.2022FZZX01-33)。
文摘Neurovascularization serves as the prerequisite and assurance for fostering neurogenesis after peripheral nerve injury(PNI),not only contributing to the reconstruction of the regenerative neurovascular niche but also providing a surface and directionality for Schwann cell(SC)cords migration and axons elongation.Despite the development of nerve tissue engineering techniques has drawn increasing attention to the intervention approach for repairing nerve defects,systematic generalization summary of the efficient intervention to expedite nerve angiogenesis is still scarce.This review delves into the mechanisms by which macrophages within the nerve defect trigger angiogenesis after PNI and elucidates how the newborn vessels support nerve regeneration,and then extracts three major categories of strategies for producing vascularized nerves in vitro and in vivo from them,encompassing(1)in vitro prevascularization,(2)in vivo prevascularization,and(3)stimulation of neurovascularization in situ.Furthermore,we emphasize that the lack of accuracy for structure and spatiotemporal regulation,as well as the operational inconvenience and delayed connection to the host's nerve stumps,have stuck the existing neurovascularization technology in the preclinical stage.The successful design of a future prospective clinical vascularized nerve scaffold should be guided by a comprehensive consideration of these aspects.
基金supported by the Shenzhen Hong Kong Joint Funding Project,No.SGDX20230116093645007(to LY)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee International Cooperation Project,No.GJHZ20200731095608025(to LY)+7 种基金Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission’s Intelligent Diagnosis,Treatment and Prevention of Adolescent Spinal Health Public Service Platform,No.S2002Q84500835(to LY)Shenzhen Medical Research Fund,No.B2303005(to LY)Team-based Medical Science Research Program,No.2024YZZ02(to LY)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China,No.LWQ20H170001(to RL)Basic Research Project of Shenzhen Science and Technology from Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission,No.JCYJ20210324103010029(to BY)Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital Clinical Research Fund of Guangdong Province High-level Hospital Construction Project,Nos.2023yjlcyj029(to BY),2023yjlcyj021(to LL)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,No.2022A1515110679(to LL)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2022M722203(to GL).
文摘Peripheral nerve injury causes severe neuroinflammation and has become a global medical challenge.Previous research has demonstrated that porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel exhibits excellent biological properties and tissue specificity,highlighting its potential as a biomedical material for the repair of severe peripheral nerve injury;however,its role in modulating neuroinflammation post-peripheral nerve injury remains unknown.Here,we aimed to characterize the anti-inflammatory properties of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel and their underlying molecular mechanisms.Using peripheral nerve injury model rats treated with porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel,we evaluated structural and functional recovery,macrophage phenotype alteration,specific cytokine expression,and changes in related signaling molecules in vivo.Similar parameters were evaluated in vitro using monocyte/macrophage cell lines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and cultured on porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel-coated plates in complete medium.These comprehensive analyses revealed that porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel attenuated the activation of excessive inflammation at the early stage of peripheral nerve injury and increased the proportion of the M2 subtype in monocytes/macrophages.Additionally,porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel negatively regulated the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB axis both in vivo and in vitro.Our findings suggest that the efficacious anti-inflammatory properties of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel induce M2 macrophage polarization via suppression of the Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor-κB pathway,providing new insights into the therapeutic mechanism of porcine decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel in peripheral nerve injury.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China(Nos.H2020202002 and H2023202001)the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City of China(No.24JCQNJC01180)Science Research Project of Hebei Educational Department(No.BJK2023034).
文摘Nerve guidance conduits(NGCs)effectively support and guide the regeneration of injured nerves.However,traditional NGCs often lack essential growth factors and fail to create a biomimetic microenvironment conducive to nerve regrowth.This study develops a highly bionic nerve guidance conduit(HB-NGC)using hybrid high-voltage electrotechnologies that integrate electrospinning with electrohydrodynamic(EHD)printing.The outer layer consists of electrospun polycaprolactone fibers loaded with carboxyl-multi-walled carbon nanotubes,while the inner layer is composed of highly aligned polycaprolactone fibers created by EHD printing.The tubular core of the HB-NGC is filled with hyaluronic acid methacryloyl(HAMA)hydrogel encapsulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).This highly biomimetic NGC is conductive,capable of guiding axon growth,and sustainably releases growth factors,effectively mimicking the structure,function,and characteristics of natural peripheral nerves.Its distinctive architectural layers provide an exceptional bionic microenvironment by restoring physical pathways,facilitating electrical signal conduction,and supplying an extracellular matrix(ECM)environment enriched with essential growth factors.Additionally,the HB-NGC’s morphology,along with its physicochemical and mechanical properties,effectively bridges the gap between severed nerve ends.In vivo animal studies validate the HB-NGC’s effectiveness,highlighting its significant potential to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32371048(to YK)the Peking University People’s Hospital Research and Development Funds,No.RDX2021-01(to YK)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7222198(to NH)。
文摘Macrophages play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration,but the specific mechanism of regeneration is still unclear.Our preliminary findings indicated that neutrophil peptide 1 is an innate immune peptide closely involved in peripheral nerve regeneration.However,the mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances nerve regeneration remains unclear.This study was designed to investigate the relationship between neutrophil peptide 1 and macrophages in vivo and in vitro in peripheral nerve crush injury.The functions of RAW 264.7 cells we re elucidated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay,flow cytometry,migration assays,phagocytosis assays,immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Axonal debris phagocytosis was observed using the CUBIC(Clear,Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis)optical clearing technique during Wallerian degeneration.Macrophage inflammatory factor expression in different polarization states was detected using a protein chip.The results showed that neutrophil peptide 1 promoted the prolife ration,migration and phagocytosis of macrophages,and CD206 expression on the surfa ce of macrophages,indicating M2 polarization.The axonal debris clearance rate during Wallerian degeneration was enhanced after neutrophil peptide 1 intervention.Neutrophil peptide 1 also downregulated inflammatory factors interleukin-1α,-6,-12,and tumor necrosis factor-αin invo and in vitro.Thus,the results suggest that neutrophil peptide 1 activates macrophages and accelerates Wallerian degeneration,which may be one mechanism by which neutrophil peptide 1 enhances peripheral nerve regeneration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.31730031,32130060the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31971276(to JH)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.BK20202013(to XG)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China(Major Program),No.19KJA320005(to JH)。
文摘Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate.Howeve r,it is unclear what factors play a role in this process.In this study,we searched a GEO database and found that expression of platelet factor 4 was markedly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury.Platelet factor is an important molecule in cell apoptosis,diffe rentiation,survival,and proliferation.Further,polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the change in platelet factor 4 in the sciatic nerve at different time points after injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that platelet factor 4 was secreted by Schwann cells.We also found that silencing platelet factor 4 decreased the proliferation and migration of primary cultured Schwann cells,while exogenously applied platelet factor 4 stimulated Schwann cell prolife ration and migration and neuronal axon growth.Furthermore,knocking out platelet factor 4 inhibited the prolife ration of Schwann cells in injured rat sciatic nerve.These findings suggest that Schwann cell-secreted platelet factor 4 may facilitate peripheral nerve repair and regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon growth.Thus,platelet factor 4 may be a potential therapeutic target for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.31971277 and 31950410551(both to DY)。
文摘Injuries caused by trauma and neurodegenerative diseases can damage the peripheral nervous system and cause functional deficits.Unlike in the central nervous system,damaged axons in peripheral nerves can be induced to regenerate in response to intrinsic cues after reprogramming or in a growth-promoting microenvironment created by Schwann cells.However,axon regeneration and repair do not automatically result in the restoration of function,which is the ultimate therapeutic goal but also a major clinical challenge.Transforming growth factor(TGF)is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates various biological processes including tissue repair,embryo development,and cell growth and differentiation.There is accumulating evidence that TGF-βfamily proteins participate in peripheral nerve repair through various factors and signaling pathways by regulating the growth and transformation of Schwann cells;recruiting specific immune cells;controlling the permeability of the blood-nerve barrier,thereby stimulating axon growth;and inhibiting remyelination of regenerated axons.TGF-βhas been applied to the treatment of peripheral nerve injury in animal models.In this context,we review the functions of TGF-βin peripheral nerve regeneration and potential clinical applications.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of Stem Cell and Transformation Research,No.2019YFA0112100(to SF)the National Natural Science Foundation of China No.81930070(to SF)+1 种基金Multi-fund Investment Key Projects,No.21JCZDJC01100(to ZW)the Tianjin Science and Technology Planning Project,No.22JRRCRC00010(to SF)。
文摘Complete transverse injury of peripheral nerves is challenging to treat.Exosomes secreted by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are considered to play an important role in intercellular communication and regulate tissue regeneration.In previous studies,a collagen/hyaluronic acid sponge was shown to provide a suitable regeneration environment for Schwann cell proliferation and to promote axonal regeneration.This three-dimensional(3D)composite conduit contains a collagen/hyaluronic acid inner sponge enclosed in an electrospun hollow poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)tube.However,whether there is a synergy between the 3D composite conduit and exosomes in the repair of peripheral nerve injury remains unknown.In this study,we tested a comprehensive strategy for repairing long-gap(10 mm)peripheral nerve injury that combined the 3D composite conduit with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes.Repair effectiveness was evaluated by sciatic functional index,sciatic nerve compound muscle action potential recording,recovery of muscle mass,measuring the cross-sectional area of the muscle fiber,Masson trichrome staining,and transmission electron microscopy of the regenerated nerve in rats.The results showed that transplantation of the 3D composite conduit loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promoted peripheral nerve regeneration and restoration of motor function,similar to autograft transplantation.More CD31-positive endothelial cells were observed in the regenerated nerve after transplantation of the loaded conduit than after transplantation of the conduit without exosomes,which may have contributed to the observed increase in axon regeneration and distal nerve reconnection.Therefore,the use of a 3D composite conduit loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes represents a promising cell-free therapeutic option for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
