Here, we report on the identification of Itga7-expressing muscle resident glial cells activated by loss of NMJ integrity. Gene expression analysis at bulk and single cell level revealed that these cells are distinct from Itga7-expressing muscle satellite cells. We show that a selective activation and expansion of Itga7-positive glial cells occurs in response to muscle nerve lesion. Upon activation, muscle glial-derived progenies expressed neurotrophic genes, including Ngfr, which enables their isolation by FACS. We show that activated muscle glial cells also expressed genes potentially implicated in ECM remodeling at NMJs. Among them, we observed Tenascin C (Tnc), which was highly expressed by muscle glial cells activated upon nerve injury, and preferentially localized to NMJ. Interestingly, we observed that while the activation of muscle glial cells by acute nerve injury was reversible, upon NMJ repair. By contrast, in a mouse model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), in which NMJ degeneration is progressive, muscle glial cells steadily increased over the course of the disease; however, they exhibited an impaired neurotrophic activity, suggesting that pathogenic activation of glial cells may be implicated in ALS progression.
Aim: To assess the ultrasound features in patients with plantar fasciopathy before and after extracorporeal shock waves therapy (ESWT), using conventional grey-scale imaging and both strain (SE) and shear wave (SWE) elastosonographic evaluation.Material and method: Consecutive patients of both sexes attending our outpatient’s clinic, with diagnosis of unilateral plantar fasciopathy, were enrolled. Patients were treated with 3 sessions of ESWT once a week, and underwent clinical and ultrasound evaluation at baseline and at one and three months after treatment. Roles and Maudsley score (RM), visual analog scale (VAS) and 17-Italian Foot Function Index (FFI), were used to assess pain and functional improvement.Results: Twenty patients (11 female and 9 male) were enrolled in the study. Contralateral asymptomatic healthy plantar fascia was used as a control. At baseline, SWE velocity (SWEv) showed statistically significant difference between affected 3.8 (1.5; 5.1) m/s and healthy side 4.7 (4.07; 7.04) m/s, (p=0.006); no significant difference was found for strain ratio values (p=0.656). SWEv post hoc test results showed a significant difference from baseline 3.8 (1.5-5.1) m/s and three month 5.23 (4.55-6.74) m/s follow up visit (p=0.003). Significant statistical negative correlation was found between the SWEv and VAS (p=0.001) and positive correlation between the SWEv and FFI (p=0.012).Conclusion: SWE was effective in assessing plantar fascia elasticity and its alteration in fasciopathy. Furthermore, on the basis of the correlation with pain and functional scales, this technique appears to be a useful additional technique to conventional ultrasound for monitoring the efficacy of treatment
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