Laminin-coated multifilament entubulation, combined with Schwann cells and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, promotes unidirectional axonal regeneration in a rat model of thoracic spinal cord hemisection

Biomaterial bridging provides physical substrates to guide axonal growth across the lesion.To achieve efficient directional guidance,combinatory strategies using permissive matrix,cells and trophic factors are necessary.In the present study,we evaluated permissive effect of poly(acrylonitrile-co-vinyl chloride)guidance channels filled by different densities of laminin-precoated unidirectional polypropylene filaments combined with Schwann cells,and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor for axonal regeneration through a T10 hemisected spinal cord gap in adult rats.We found that channels with filaments significantly reduced the lesion cavity,astrocytic gliosis,and inflammatory responses at the graft-host boundaries.The laminin coated low density filament provided the most favorable directional guidance for axonal regeneration which was enhanced by co-grafting of Schwann cells and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor.These results demonstrate that the combinatorial strategy of filament-filled guiding scaffold,adhesive molecular laminin,Schwann cells,and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,provides optimal topographical cues in stimulating directional axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury.This study was approved by Indiana University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees(IACUC#:11011)on October 29,2015.

GDNF-Enhanced Axonal Regeneration and Myelination Following Spinal Cord Injury is Mediated by Primary Effects on Neurons

我们先前研究表明胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)联合施万细胞移植能促进脊髓损伤后轴突再生和髓鞘形成。然而,GDNF介导这一过程的细胞靶点尚不清楚。在此,我们报道了GDNF可增加在体再生轴突的数目和直径,并促进体外背根神经节神经元的轴突向外生长,提示GDNF对神经元有直接作用。在施万细胞-背根神经节神经元共培养下,GDNF显著增加施万细胞生成的髓鞘数目;GDNF处理对孤立培养的施万细胞增殖无作用,但可促进已与神经轴突有突触联系的施万细胞增殖;GDNF可增加孤立施万细胞中分子量为140kDa的神经细胞黏附分子(NCAM)的表达,但对黏附分子L1表达或神经营养因子NGF、NT3及BDNF分泌没有影响。总之,这些结果支持假设:GDNF提高轴突再生和施万细胞髓鞘形成主要是通过GDNF对神经元的直接作用介导的,并且提示GDNF联合施万细胞移植可能是促进脊髓损伤后轴突再生和髓鞘形成的有效策略之一。

Integrin binding peptides facilitate growth and interconnected vascular-like network formation of rat primary cortical vascular endothelial cells in vitro

Neovascularization and angiogenesis in the brain are important physiological processes for normal brain development and repair/regeneration following insults. Integrins are cell surface adhesion receptors mediating important function of cells such as survival, growth and development during tissue organization, differentiation and organogenesis. In this study, we used an integrin-binding array platform to identify the important types of integrins and their binding peptides that facilitate adhesion, growth, development, and vascular-like network formation of rat primary brain microvascular endothelial cells. Brain microvascular endothelial cells were isolated from rat brain on post-natal day 7. Cells were cultured in a custom-designed integrin array system containing short synthetic peptides binding to 16 types of integrins commonly expressed on cells in vertebrates. After 7 days of culture, the brain microvascular endothelial cells were processed for immunostaining with markers for endothelial cells including von Willibrand factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule. 5-Bromo-2′-dexoyuridine was added to the culture at 48 hours prior to fixation to assess cell proliferation. Among 16 integrins tested, we found that α5β1, αvβ5 and αvβ8 greatly promoted proliferation of endothelial cells in culture. To investigate the effect of integrin-binding peptides in promoting neovascularization and angiogenesis, the binding peptides to the above three types of integrins were immobilized to our custom-designed hydrogel in three-dimensional(3 D) culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells with the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor. Following a 7-day 3 D culture, the culture was fixed and processed for double labeling of phalloidin with von Willibrand factor or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and assessed under confocal microscopy. In the 3 D culture in hydrogels conjugated with the integrin-binding peptide, brain microvascular endothelial cells formed interconnected vascular-like network with clearly discernable lumens, which is reminiscent of brain microvascular network in vivo. With the novel integrin-binding array system, we identified the specific types of integrins on brain microvascular endothelial cells that mediate cell adhesion and growth followed by functionalizing a 3 D hydrogel culture system using the binding peptides that specifically bind to the identified integrins, leading to robust growth and lumenized microvascular-like network formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells in 3 D culture. This technology can be used for in vitro and in vivo vascularization of transplants or brain lesions to promote brain tissue regeneration following neurological insults.

CEPC Technical Design Report

The Circular Electron Positron Collider(CEPC)is a large scientific project initiated and hosted by China,fostered through extensive collaboration with international partners.The complex comprises four accelerators:a 30 GeV Linac,a 1.1 GeV Damping Ring,a Booster capable of achieving energies up to 180 GeV,and a Collider operating at varying energy modes(Z,W,H,and tt).The Linac and Damping Ring are situated on the surface,while the subterranean Booster and Collider are housed in a 100 km circumference underground tunnel,strategically accommodating future expansion with provisions for a potential Super Proton Proton Collider(SPPC).The CEPC primarily serves as a Higgs factory.In its baseline design with synchrotron radiation(SR)power of 30 MW per beam,it can achieve a luminosity of 5×10^(34)cm^(-2)s^(-1)per interaction point(IP),resulting in an integrated luminosity of 13 ab^(-1)for two IPs over a decade,producing 2.6 million Higgs bosons.Increasing the SR power to 50 MW per beam expands the CEPC's capability to generate 4.3 million Higgs bosons,facilitating precise measurements of Higgs coupling at sub-percent levels,exceeding the precision expected from the HL-LHC by an order of magnitude.This Technical Design Report(TDR)follows the Preliminary Conceptual Design Report(Pre-CDR,2015)and the Conceptual Design Report(CDR,2018),comprehensively detailing the machine's layout,performance metrics,physical design and analysis,technical systems design,R&D and prototyping efforts,and associated civil engineering aspects.Additionally,it includes a cost estimate and a preliminary construction timeline,establishing a framework for forthcoming engineering design phase and site selection procedures.Construction is anticipated to begin around 2027-2028,pending government approval,with an estimated duration of 8 years.The commencement of experiments and data collection could potentially be initiated in the mid-2030s.

The efficacy and safety of NeuroWell antidepressant dietary supplement,Deanxit,and their combination in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression:A randomized clinical trial

Depression is the leading global cause of,disability,affecting about 300 milion people worldwide.1;2 Depending on the number and severity of symptoms,depressive episodes can be classified as mild,moderate,and severe.Previous studies have typically focused on the treatment of severe refractory depression,while there have been few studies on the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression.

Molecular imaging of advanced atherosclerotic plaques with folate receptor-targeted 2D nanoprobes

Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques are responsible for most cardiovascular diseases(CVDs).Folate receptor(FR)positive activated macrophages were thought to be a prominent component in the development of vulnerable plaque.The objective of this study is to develop folate conjugated two-dimensional(2D)Pd@Au nanomaterials(Pd@Au-PEG-FA)for targeted multimodal imaging of the FRs in advanced atherosclerotic plaques.Pharmacokinetic and imaging studies(single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT),computed tomography(CT)and photoacoustic(PA)imaging)were performed to confirm the prolonged blood half-life and enrichment of radioactivity in atherosclerotic plaques.Strong signals were detected in vivo with SPECT,CT and PA imaging in heavy atherosclerotic plaques,which were significantly higher than those of the normal aortas after injection of Pd@Au-PEG-FA.Blocking studies with preinjection of excess FA could effectively reduce the targeting ability of Pd@Au-PEG-FA in atherosclerotic plaques,further demonstrating the specific binding of Pd@Au-PEG-FA for plaque lesions.Histopathological characterization revealed that the signal of probe was in accordance with the high-risk plaques.In summary,the Pd@Au-PEG-FA has favorable pharmacokinetic properties and provides a valuable approach for detecting high-risk plaques in the presence of FRs in atherosclerotic plaques.