Chondroitinase ABC combined with Schwann cell transplantation enhances restoration of neural connection and functional recovery following acute and chronic spinal cord injury

Schwann cell transplantation is considered one of the most promising cell-based therapy to repair injured spinal cord due to its unique growth-promoting and myelin-forming properties.A the Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase I clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate the safety of transplanted human autologous Schwann cells to treat patients with spinal cord injury.A major challenge for Schwann cell transplantation is that grafted Schwann cells are confined within the lesion cavity,and they do not migrate into the host environment due to the inhibitory barrier formed by injury-induced glial scar,thus limiting axonal reentry into the host spinal cord.Here we introduce a combinatorial strategy by suppressing the inhibitory extracellular environment with injection of lentivirus-mediated transfection of chondroitinase ABC gene at the rostral and caudal borders of the lesion site and simultaneously leveraging the repair capacity of transplanted Schwann cells in adult rats following a mid-thoracic contusive spinal cord injury.We report that when the glial scar was degraded by chondroitinase ABC at the rostral and caudal lesion borders,Schwann cells migrated for considerable distances in both rostral and caudal directions.Such Schwann cell migration led to enhanced axonal regrowth,including the serotonergic and dopaminergic axons originating from supraspinal regions,and promoted recovery of locomotor and urinary bladder functions.Importantly,the Schwann cell survival and axonal regrowth persisted up to 6 months after the injury,even when treatment was delayed for 3 months to mimic chronic spinal cord injury.These findings collectively show promising evidence for a combinatorial strategy with chondroitinase ABC and Schwann cells in promoting remodeling and recovery of function following spinal cord injury.

Chondroitinase ABC plus bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for repair of spinal cord injury

As chondroitinase ABC can improve the hostile microenvironment and cell transplantation is proven to be effective after spinal cord injury, we hypothesized that their combination would be a more effective treatment option. At 5 days after T8 spinal cord crush injury, rats were injected with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell suspension or chondroitinase ABC 1 mm from the edge of spinal cord damage zone. Chondroitinase ABC was first injected, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell suspension was injected on the next day in the combination group. At 14 days, the mean Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score of the rats in the combination group was higher than other groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the necrotic area was significantly reduced in the combination group compared with other groups. Glial fibrillary acidic protein-chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan double staining showed that the damage zone of astrocytic scars was significantly reduced without the cavity in the combination group. Glial fibrillary acidic protein/growth associated protein-43 double immunostaining revealed that positive fibers traversed the damage zone in the combination group. These results suggest that the combination of chondroitinase ABC and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation contributes to the repair of spinal cord injury.

Chondroitinase ABC treatment of injured spinal cord in rats Evaluation of long-term outcomes

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans （CSPGs） which are produced by mature oligodendrocytes and reactive astrocytes can be upregulated after spinal cord injury and contribute to regenerative failure. Chondroitinase ABC （ChABC） digests glycosaminoglycan chains on CSPGs and can thereby overcome CSPG-mediated inhibition. However, many current studies have used an incomplete spinal cord injury model, and examined results after 8-12 weeks of ChABC treatment. In this study, a complete rat spinal cord transection injury model was used to study the long-term effects of ChABC treatment by subarachnoid catheter. Pathology of spinal cord regeneration was compared with control 24 weeks following ChABC treatment using immunohistochemistry and axon tracing techniques. At 24 weeks after injury, neurofilament 200 expression was significantly greater in the ChABC treatment group compared with the transection group. In the ChABC treatment group, axonal growth was demonstrated by a large number of biotinylated dextran amine positive axons caudal to, or past, the epicenter of injury. Biotinylated dextran amine-labeled fibers were found in the proximal end of the spinal cord in the transection alone group. These results confirm that ChABC can promote axon growth, neural regeneration, and repair after spinal cord injury in rats long after the initial injury.

Chondroitinase ABC improves recovery of long sciatic nerve defects

Sciatic nerves from allogeneic Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with chondroitinase ABC and were used to bridge damaged sciatic nerves in Wistar rats. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans were removed from the chemically extracted acellular nerves. At 3 months after grafting, the footplate pinch test result was positive in the Wistar rats. Autotorny scores decreased, and increased muscular contraction tension appeared when triceps surae muscles were stimulated. In addition, the recovery rate of wet triceps surae muscle weight increased, and the distal segment of the chondroitinase ABC-treated graft exhibited Schwann cells next to the nerve fibers. These results suggested that chondroitinase ABC pretreatment enhanced repair of long nerve defects via acellular nerve grafting.

Exogenous BDNF and Chondroitinase ABC Consisted Biomimetic Microenvironment Regulates Survival,Migration and Differentiation of Human Neural Progenitor Cells Transplanted into a Rat Auditory Nerve

Current putative regeneration oriented studies express possible role of stem cell based implantation strategy in the restoration of fundamental perception of hearing. The present work utilizes a rat auditory nerve (AN) directed transplantation of human neural progenitor cells (HNPCs) as a cell replacement therapy for impaired auditory function. Groups of b-bungarotoxin induced auditory function compromised female rats were used to transplant HNPCs in the nerve trunk. In the treatment groups, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), peptide amphiphile nanofiber bioactive gel (Bgel) and Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), a digestive enzyme that cleaves the core of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans, were added along with HNPCs while the control groups were with PA inert gel (Igel) and devoid of ChABC. Six weeks post transplantation survival, migration, and differentiation of HNPCs were studied and compared. The groups treated with BDNF and Bgel showed improved survival and differentiation of transplanted HNPCs while the ChABC treated group showed significant migration of HNPCs along the AN and elongation of neuronal fibers along the nerve towards the cochlear nucleus (CN) which was characterized by immunocytochemical markers for human Nuclei (HuN), human mitochondria (HuM) and neuronal β-tubulin (Tuj1). These findings show that addition of BDNF and ChABC consisted Bgel environment facilitated HNPC survival, migration and differentiation along the transplanted rat AN towards the CN. This transplantation strategy provides unique experimental validation for futuristic role of cell based biomaterial consisted neurotrophic factor application in clinically transferable treatment of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) along with cochlear implants (CI).

Combination treatment with chondroitinase ABC in spinal cord injury—breaking the barrier

After spinal cord injury （SCl）, re-establishing functional circuitry in the damaged central nervous system （CNS） faces multiple challenges including lost tissue volume, insufficient intrinsic growth capacity of adult neurons, and the inhibitory environment in the damaged CNS. Several treatment strategies have been developed over the past three decades, but successful restoration of sensory and motor functions will probably require a combination of approaches to address different aspects of the problem. Degradation of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans with the chondroitinase ABC （ChABC） enzyme removes a regeneration barrier from the glial scar and increases plasticity in the CNS by removing perineuronal nets. Its mechanism of action does not clash or overlap with most of the other treatment strategies, making ChABC an attractive candidate as a combinational partner with other methods. In this article, we review studies in rat SCI models using ChABC combined with other treatments including cell implantation, growth factors, myelin-inhibitory molecule blockers, and ion channel expression. We discuss possible ways to optimize treatment protocols for future combinational studies. To date, combinational therapies with ChABC have shown synergistic effects with several other strategies in enhancing functional recovery after SCI. These combinatorial approaches can now be developed for clinical application.

Migration of Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stably Expressing Chondroitinase ABC In vitro

Background： Several studies have revealed that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells （ADSCs） can be used as seed cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury （SCI）. Chondroitinase ABC （ChABC） decomposes chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the glial scar that forms following SCI, allowing stem cells to penetrate through the scar and promote recovery of nerve function. This study aimed to establish ADSCs that stably express ChABC （ChABC-ADSCs） and evaluate the migratory capability of ChABC-ADSCs in vitro. Methods： ADSCs were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats using secondary collagenase digestion. Their phenotypes were characterized using flow cytometry detection of cell surface antigens and their stem cell properties were confirmed by induction of differentiation. After successful culture, ADSCs were transfected with lentiviral vectors and ChABC-ADSCs were obtained. Proliferation curves of ChABC-ADSCs were determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method, ChABC expression was verified using Western blotting, and the migration of ChABC-ADSCs was analyzed using the transwell assay. Results： Secondary collagenase digestion increased the isolation efficiency of primary ADSCs. Following transfection using lentivira[ vectors, the proliferation of ChABC-ADSCs was reduced in comparison with control ADSCs at 48 h （P 〈 0.05）. And the level of ChABC expression in the ChABC-ADSC group was significantly higher than that of the ADSC group （P 〈 0.05）, Moreover, ChABC-ADSC migration in matrigel was significantly enhanced in comparison with the control （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions： Secondary collagenase digestion can be used to effectively isolate ADSCs. ChABC-ADSCs constructed using lentiviral vector transfection stably express ChABC, and ChABC expression significantly enhances the migratory capacity of ADSCs.

The hydrophobic cluster on the surface of protein is the key structural basis for the SDS-resistance of chondroitinase VhChlABC

The application of chondroitinase requires consideration of the complex microenvironment of the target.Our previous research reported a marine-derived sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)-resistant chondroitinase VhChlABC.This study further investigated the mechanism of VhChlABC resistance to SDS.Focusing on the hydrophobic cluster on its strong hydrophilic surface,it was found that the reduction of hydrophobicity of surface residues Ala181,Met182,Met183,Ala184,Val185,and Ile305 significantly reduced the SDS resistance and stability.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulation and molecular docking analysis showed that I305G had more conformational flexibility around residue 305 than wild type(WT),which was more conducive to SDS insertion and binding.The affinity of A181G,M182A,M183A,V185A and I305G to SDS was significantly higher than that of WT.In conclusion,the surface hydrophobic microenvironment composed of six residues was the structural basis for SDS resistance.This feature could prevent the binding of SDS and the destruction of hydrophobic packaging by increasing the rigid conformation of protein and reducing the binding force of SDS-protein.The study provides a new idea for the rational design of SDS-resistant proteins and may further promote chondroitinase research in the targeted therapy of lung diseases under the pressure of pulmonary surfactant.

Perineuronal nets increase inhibitory GABAergic currents during the critical period in rats

AIM: To investigate inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) ergic postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and postsynaptic currents (PSCs) in layer IV of the rat visual cortex during the critical period and when plasticity was extended through dissolution of the perineuronal nets (PNNs). METHODS: We employed 24 normal Long-Evans rats to study GABA A-PSC characteristics of neurons within layer IV of the visual cortex during development. The animals were divided into six groups of four rats according to ages at recording: PW3 (P21 -23d), PW4 (P28 -30d), PW5 (P35-37d), PW6 (P42-44d), PW7 (P49-51d), and PW8 (56-58d). An additional 24 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) degradation rats (also Long-Evans) were generated by making a pattern of injections of chondroitinase ABC (chABC) into the visual cortex 1 week prior to recording at PW3, PW4, PW5, PW6, PW7, and PW8. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the effect of chABC injection on CSPGs. PSCs were detected with whole-cell patch recordings, and GABA A receptor-mediated IPSCs were pharmacologically isolated. RESULTS: IPSC peak current showed a strong rise in the age-matched control group, peaked at PW5 and were maintained at a roughly constant value thereafter. Although there was a small increase in peak current for the chABC group with age, the peak currents continued to decrease with the delayed highest value at PW6, resulting in significantly different week-by-week com-parison with normal development. IPSC decay time continued to increase until PW7 in the control group, while those in the chABC group were maintained at astable level after an initial increase at PW4. Compared with normal rats, the decay times recorded in the chABC rats were always shorter, which differed significantly at each age. We did not observe any differences in IPSC properties between the age-matched control and penicillinase (P-ase) group. However, the change in IPSCs after chABC treatment was not reflected in the total PSCs or in basic membrane properties in layer IV of the rat visual cortex. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that rather than rapidly increasing during the critical period for neuronal plasticity, IPSCs in layer IV of rat visual cortex are maintained at an immature level when PNNs are removed by chABC. This suggests that GABA receptor maturation involves the conformation of the CSPGs in PNNs.

Chondroitinase对成年大鼠脊髓完全性横断损伤后胶质瘢痕的影响

目的研究Chondroitinase(chABC)对成年大鼠脊髓完全性横断性损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)后胶质瘢痕及纤维浸润的长期影响。方法 Wistar大鼠24只,在第10胸段脊髓(T10)给予破坏脊膜的完全性横切术,然后随机分为2组,在SCI处分别给予chABC或生理盐水。14周后,脊髓横断从胸9至胸11(10mm组织块)连续切片,首先用Trichrome组织学染色切片确定SCI中心及距中心头侧和尾侧各500μm位置,Trichrome染色和免疫组织化学染色测量损伤脊髓中胶原蛋白浸润的面积,硫酸软骨素蛋白聚糖(CSPGs)的免疫反应强度。免疫荧光共聚焦显微成像检测pCREB(1:25)和GFAP表达,以及测量在SCI处纵向的最短GFAP阴性距离。结果应用chABC治疗可降低脊髓完全性横断后结缔组织的浸润。在SCI处胶原蛋白的纵向最大浸润距离以及在脊髓横断切片上的浸润面积,在chABC组显著减小(p<0.05)。在SCI处纵向的最短GFAP平均阴性距离在chABC组中显著低于未治疗组(p<0.05),表明更多的剩余正常组织在SCI后得以保留。chABC还能有效地清除轴突再生的抑制因子CSPGs(p<0.05)。结论 Chondroitinase通过减少纤维浸润和胶质瘢痕以及清除抑制性细胞外基质分子CSPGs,可为脊髓损伤后神经功能恢复和轴突再生提供有利的局部环境。