BACKGROUND Human endometrium has immense regenerative capacity, growing ~5 mm in 7 days every month. We have previously identified a small population of colony-forming endometrial stromal cells which ...we hypothesize are mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The aim of this study was to determine if the co-expression of two perivascular cell markers, CD146 and platelet-derived growth factor-receptor β (PDGF-Rβ), will prospectively isolate endometrial stromal cells which exhibit MSC properties, and determine their location in human endometrium. METHODS Single cell suspensions of human endometrial stromal cells were fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) sorted into CD146+PDGF-Rβ+ and CD146−PDGF-Rβ− populations and analysed for colony-forming ability, in vitro differentiation and expression of typical MSC markers. Full thickness human endometrial sections were co-stained for CD146 and PDGF-Rβ. RESULTS FACS stromal CD146+PDGF-Rβ+ stromal cells (1.5% of sorted population) were enriched for colony-forming cells compared with CD146−PDGF-Rβ− cells (7.7 ± 1.7 versus 0.7 ± 0.2% P <0.0001), and also underwent differentiation into adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic and chondrogenic lineages. They expressed MSC phenotypic surface markers and were located near blood vessels. CONCLUSION This study shows that human endometrium contains a small population of MSC-like cells that may be responsible for its cyclical growth, and may provide a readily available source of MSC for tissue engineering applications.
Axonal damage leads to permanent deficits in the adult central nervous system (CNS) not only because of the weak intrinsic ability of adult neurons to activate their growth program but importantly ...also because of the presence of specific growth inhibitors in the CNS tissue and the environment of the damaged axons. The well-studied myelin-derived protein Nogo-A is involved in various cellular and molecular events contributing to the failure of CNS axons to regrow and reconnect after transection. Recent studies have shown that, by acting in a negative way on the cytoskeleton and on the growth program of axotomized neurons, Nogo-A exerts fast and chronic inhibitory effects on neurite outgrowth. On the other hand, the blockade of Nogo-A results in a marked enhancement of compensatory and regenerative axonal extension in vivo; this enhancement is often paralleled by significant functional recovery, for example, of locomotion or skilled forelimb reaching after spinal cord or stroke lesions in rats and monkeys. Surprisingly, the blockade of Nogo-A or its receptor NgR in the hippocampus has recently been demonstrated to enhance long-term potentiation. A role of Nogo-A in synaptic plasticity/stability might therefore represent an additional, new and important aspect of CNS circuit remodeling. Function-blocking anti-Nogo-A antibodies are currently being tested in a clinical trial for improved outcome after spinal cord injury.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The vascular and the nervous system are responsible for oxygen, nutrient, and information transfer and thereby constitute highly important communication systems in higher organisms. These functional ...similarities are reflected at the anatomical, cellular, and molecular levels, where common developmental principles and mutual crosstalks have evolved to coordinate their action. This resemblance of the two systems at different levels of complexity has been termed the “neurovascular link.” Most of the evidence demonstrating neurovascular interactions derives from studies outside the CNS and from the CNS tissue of the retina. However, little is known about the specific properties of the neurovascular link in the brain. Here, we focus on regulatory effects of molecules involved in the neurovascular link on angiogenesis in the periphery and in the brain and distinguish between general and CNS-specific cues for angiogenesis. Moreover, we discuss the emerging molecular interactions of these angiogenic cues with the VEGF-VEGFR-Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4)-Jagged-Notch pathway.
The review by Wälchli et al. describes how the molecules involved in the neurovascular link regulate angiogenesis and endothelial tip cells in the brain and the periphery and discusses the molecular interactions of these cues with the VEGF-VEGFR-Delta-like-ligand-4 (Dll4)-Jagged-Notch pathway.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Nogo-A is a membrane protein of the central nervous system (CNS) restricting neurite growth and synaptic plasticity via two extracellular domains: Nogo-66 and Nogo-A-Δ20. Receptors transducing ...Nogo-A-Δ20 signaling remained elusive so far. Here we identify the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) as a Nogo-A-Δ20-specific receptor. Nogo-A-Δ20 binds S1PR2 on sites distinct from the pocket of the sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and signals via the G protein G13, the Rho GEF LARG, and RhoA. Deleting or blocking S1PR2 counteracts Nogo-A-Δ20- and myelin-mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth and cell spreading. Blockade of S1PR2 strongly enhances long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus of wild-type but not Nogo-A(-/-) mice, indicating a repressor function of the Nogo-A/S1PR2 axis in synaptic plasticity. A similar increase in LTP was also observed in the motor cortex after S1PR2 blockade. We propose a novel signaling model in which a GPCR functions as a receptor for two structurally unrelated ligands, a membrane protein and a sphingolipid. Elucidating Nogo-A/S1PR2 signaling platforms will provide new insights into regulation of synaptic plasticity.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The brain exhibits limited capacity for spontaneous restoration of lost motor functions after stroke. Rehabilitation is the prevailing clinical approach to augment functional recovery, but the ...scientific basis is poorly understood. Here, we show nearly full recovery of skilled forelimb functions in rats with large strokes when a growth-promoting immunotherapy against a neurite growth–inhibitory protein was applied to boost the sprouting of new fibers, before stabilizing the newly formed circuits by intensive training. In contrast, early high-intensity training during the growth phase destroyed the effect and led to aberrant fiber patterns. Pharmacogenetic experiments identified a subset of corticospinal fibers originating in the intact half of the forebrain, side-switching in the spinal cord to newly innervate the impaired limb and restore skilled motor function.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Axonal regeneration and ifber regrowth is limited in the adult central nervous system, but re-search over the last decades has revealed a high intrinsic capacity of brain and spinal cord circuits to ...adapt and reorganize after smaller injuries or denervation. Short-distance ifber growth and synaptic rewiring was found in cortex, brain stem and spinal cord and could be associated with restoration of sensorimotor functions that were impaired by the injury. Such processes of struc-tural plasticity were initially observed in the corticospinal system following spinal cord injury or stroke, but recent studies showed an equally high potential for structural and functional reorganization in reticulospinal, rubrospinal or propriospinal projections. Here we review the lesion-induced plastic changes in the propriospinal pathways, and we argue that they represent a key mechanism triggering sensorimotor recovery upon incomplete spinal cord injury. The for-mation or strengthening of spinal detour pathways bypassing supraspinal commands around the lesion site to the denervated spinal cord were identiifed as prominent neural substrate inducing substantial motor recovery in different species from mice to primates. Indications for the exis-tence of propriospinal bypasses were also found in humans after cortical stroke. It is mandatory for current research to dissect the biological mechanisms underlying spinal circuit remodeling and to investigate how these processes can be stimulated in an optimal way by therapeutic inter-ventions （e.g., ifber-growth enhancing interventions, rehabilitation）. This knowledge will clear the way for the development of novel strategies targeting the remarkable plastic potential of pro-priospinal circuits to maximize functional recovery after spinal cord injury.
Highlights • The regeneration of long axons in the injured CNS is a ‘holy grail’ in neuroscience. • Strong axonal growth is promoted by modulating growth genes in injured neurons. • Complete axonal ...regeneration is still impossible in the optic nerve injury model. • Axonal misguidance may be a major limitation for long-distance axonal regeneration. • Balanced growth-promoting treatments and axonal guidance mechanisms are required.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Small lesions of the adult central nervous system (CNS) often have a good prognosis with extensive functional recovery based in part on spontaneous neuritic sprouting and rearrangements of ...projections. This is well documented for the cortex, but these changes can also occur in the spinal cord. Nogo‐A is a protein present in CNS myelin that inhibits neurite growth. Models of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats and macaque monkeys demonstrate that treatment with function‐blocking antibodies of Nogo‐A results in an upregulation of growth‐specific proteins, enhanced regenerative and compensatory sprouting of fibers, and the formation of new functional connections in the spinal cord. In animals with unilateral sensorimotor cortex lesions followed by Nogo‐A antibody treatment, fibers from the intact corticofugal system crossed the midline, supplying innervation to the denervated brain stem or spinal cord. Behavioral tests showed marked improvements of functional recovery in the Nogo‐A antibody treated spinal cord‐ or brain‐injured animals. A Phase I clinical trial applying anti‐Nogo‐A antibody to subjects with acute SCI has been successfully conducted and a multicentric, multinational Phase II trial is currently in preparation.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
9.
Nogo and axon regeneration Schwab, Martin E
Current opinion in neurobiology,
02/2004, Volume:
14, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Nogo-A is one of several neurite growth inhibitory components present in oligodendrocytes and CNS myelin membranes. Nogo has a crucial role in restricting axonal regeneration and compensatory fibre ...growth in the injured adult mammalian CNS. Recent studies have shown that
in vivo applications of Nogo neutralizing antibodies, peptides blocking the Nogo receptor subunit NgR, or blockers of the postreceptor components Rho-A and ROCK induce long-distance axonal regeneration and compensatory sprouting, accompanied by an impressive enhancement of functional recovery, in the rat and mouse spinal cord.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
BACKGROUND Human endometrium is a highly regenerative tissue. We hypothesized that the source of endometrial stromal and vascular regeneration is a resident stromal stem/progenitor cell population. ...Putative human endometrial stromal stem/progenitor cells have been identified using clonal assays, a retrospective functional stem cell assay. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen potential stem cell markers for the prospective isolation of human endometrial stromal stem/progenitor cells and to determine their capacity to identify colony-forming stromal cells. METHODS Single-cell suspensions of human endometrial stromal cells were sorted using fluorescence-activated cell sorting into positive and negative populations based on STRO-1, CD133, CD90 or CD146 expression for clonal assays. All markers were immunolocalized in human endometrium. RESULTS Small populations (2–9%) of human endometrial stromal cells expressed each of the markers. Only CD146+ cells were enriched for colony-forming cells, and CD90hi cells showed a trend for greater enrichment compared with CD90lo cells. STRO-1 and CD146 were localized to perivascular cells of the endometrium. CD90 was strongly expressed by functionalis stroma and perivascular cells, but only weakly expressed in the basalis stroma. CD133 was expressed by epithelial cells of the endometrium, rather than by stroma or perivascular cells. CONCLUSIONS This study identified CD146 as a marker of colony-forming human endometrial stromal cells supporting the concept that human endometrium contains a population of candidate stromal stem/progenitor cells.
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