Glia-derived nexin (GDN), also known as protease nexin I, is a serine protease inhibitor of deduced relative molecular mass 41,700, identified in conditioned media of glioma cells by its neurite-promoting activity. GDN can promote neurite outgrowth in vitro from neuroblastoma cells, sympathetic neurons and hippocampal neurons (L. Farmer et al., manuscript in preparation). In vivo, GDN is constitutively expressed in all parts of the olfactory system, where axonal regeneration and neurogenesis occur continuously throughout life. This observation indicates that GDN could be important for axonal regeneration in vivo. To investigate this possibility, we have taken advantage of the fact that damage to nerves in the peripheral nervous system leads to their regeneration, whereas in the central nervous system no such regeneration can occur. Here we report that after lesion of the rat sciatic nerve there is a large transient increase in the amount of GDN messenger RNA and of released GDN. The cells showing GDN immunoreactivity are mainly localized distal to the lesion site. These results further support the suggestion that GDN is important for axonal regeneration in vivo, and indicate that protease inhibitors could have a role in Wallerian degeneration and peripheral nerve regeneration.

Sialylation of N-glycans associated with recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rHuAChE) has a central role in determining its circulatory clearance rate. Human embryonal kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells, which are widely used for the expression of recombinant proteins, seem to be limited in their ability to sialylate overexpressed rHuAChE. High-resolution N-glycan structural analysis, by gel permeation, HPLC anion-exchange chromatography and high-pH anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), revealed that the N-glycans associated with rHuAChE produced in HEK-293 cells belong mainly to the complex-biantennary class and are only partly sialylated, with approx. 60% of the glycans being monosialylated. This partial sialylation characterizes rHuAChE produced by cells selected for high-level expression of the recombinant protein. In low-level producer lines, the enzyme exhibits a higher sialic acid content, suggesting that undersialylation of rHuAChE in high-level producer lines stems from a limited endogenous glycosyltransferase activity. To improve sialylation in HEK-293 cells, rat liver beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase cDNA was stably transfected into cells expressing high levels of rHuAChE. rHuAChE produced by the modified cells displayed a significantly higher proportion of fully sialylated glycans as shown by sialic acid incorporation assays, direct measurement of sialic acid, and HPAEC glycan profiling. Genetically modified sialylated rHuAChE exhibited increased circulatory retention (the slow-phase half-life, t12beta, was 130 min, compared with 80 min for the undersialylated enzyme). Interestingly, the same increase in circulatory residence was observed when rHuAChE was subjected to extensive sialylation in vitro. The engineered HEK-293 cells in which the glycosylation machinery was modified might represent a valuable tool for the high level of expression of recombinant glycoproteins whose sialic acid content is important for their function or for pharmacokinetic behaviour.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by a hit to the head or a sudden acceleration/deceleration movement of the head. Mild TBIs (mTBIs) and concussions are difficult to diagnose. Imaging techniques often fail to find alterations in the brain, and computed tomography exposes the patient to radiation. Brain-specific biomolecules that are released upon cellular damage serve as another means of diagnosing TBI and assessing the severity of injury. These biomarkers can be detected from samples of body fluids using laboratory tests. Dozens of TBI biomarkers have been studied, and research related to them is increasing. We reviewed the recent literature and selected 12 biomarkers relevant to rapid and accurate diagnostics of TBI for further evaluation. The objective was especially to get a view of the temporal profiles of the biomarkers’ rise and decline after a TBI event. Most biomarkers are rapidly elevated after injury, and they serve as diagnostics tools for some days. Some biomarkers are elevated for months after injury, although the literature on long-term biomarkers is scarce. Clinical utilization of TBI biomarkers is still at a very early phase despite years of active research.

Regeneration of fish optic nerve (representing regenerative central nervous system) was accompanied by increased activity of regeneration-triggering factors produced by nonneuronal cells. A graft of regenerating fish optic nerve, or a "wrap-around" implant containing medium conditioned by it, induced a response associated with regeneration in injured optic nerves of adult rabbits (representing a nonregenerative central nervous system). This response was manifested by an increase of general protein synthesis and of selective polypeptides in the retinas and by the ability of the retina to sprout in culture.

Background Therapies based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been shown to have potential benefit in several clinical studies. We have shown that, using a medium‐based approach, MSC can be induced to secrete elevated levels of neurotropic factors, which have been shown to have protective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. These cells, designated MSC‐NTF cells (Neurotrophic factor‐secreting MSC, also known as NurOwn™) derived from the patient's own bone marrow, have been recently used for Phase I/II and Phase IIa clinical studies in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In these studies, ALS patients were subjected to a single administration of autologous MSC‐NTF cells. The data from these studies indicate that the single administration of MSC‐NTF cells is safe and well tolerated. In a recently published case report, it was shown that repeated MSC‐NTF injections in an ALS patient treated on a compassionate basis were safe and well tolerated [Muscle Nerve 49:455‐457, 2014]. Methods In the current study we studied the toxicity and tolerability of three consecutive intramuscular injections (IM) of cryopreserved human MSC‐NTF cells in C57BL/B6 mice to investigate the effect of repeated administration of these cells. Results Monitoring of clinical signs and immune reactions showed that repeated injections of the cells did not lead to any serious adverse events. Pathology, histology and blood biochemistry parameters tested were found to be within normal ranges with no sign of tumor formation. Conclusions Based on these results we conclude that repeated injections of human MSC‐NTF are well tolerated in mice. The results of this study suggest that if the outcomes of additional clinical studies point to the need for repeated treatments, such option can be considered safe.