ObjectivesA major impediment for recovery after mammalian spinal cord injury (SCI) is the glial scar formed by proliferating reactive astrocytes. Finding factors that may reduce glial scarring, increase neuronal survival, and promote neurite outgrowth are of major importance for improving the outcome after SCI. Exogenous fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) has been shown to decrease injury volume and improve functional outcome; however, the mechanisms by which this is mediated are still largely unknown.MethodsIn this study, Fgf2 was administered for 2 weeks in mice subcutaneously, starting 30 min after spinal cord hemisection.ResultsFgf2 treatment decreased the expression of TNF-a at the lesion site, decreased monocyte/macrophage infiltration, and decreased gliosis. Fgf2 induced astrocytes to adopt a polarized morphology and increased expression of radial markers such as Pax6 and nestin. In addition, the levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), expressed by glia, were markedly decreased. Furthermore, Fgf2 treatment promotes the formation of parallel glial processes, “bridges,” at the lesion site that enable regenerating axons through the injury site. Additionally, Fgf2 treatment increased Sox2-expressing cells in the gray matter and neurogenesis around and at the lesion site. Importantly, these effects were correlated with enhanced functional recovery of the left paretic hind limb.ConclusionsThus, early pharmacological intervention with Fgf2 following SCI is neuroprotective and creates a proregenerative environment by the modulation of the glia response.

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Evidence suggests a proinflammatory role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in various pathologic abnormalities, including in the central nervous system. Herein, we describe LPA as an important mediator of inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) in zebrafish and mice. Furthermore, we describe a novel monoclonal blocking antibody raised against LPA that potently inhibits LPA's effect in vitro and in vivo. This antibody, B3, specifically binds LPA, prevents it from interacting with its complement of receptors, and blocks LPA's effects on the neuronal differentiation of human neural stem/progenitor cells, demonstrating its specificity toward LPA signaling. When administered systemically to mice subjected to SCI, B3 substantially reduced glial inflammation and neuronal death. B3-treated animals demonstrated significantly more neuronal survival upstream of the lesion site, with some functional improvement. This study describes the use of anti-LPA monoclonal antibody as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of SCI.

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AbstrakTujuan Lipoaspirate mengandung jumlah sel punca mesenkimal yang banyak, sehingga lipoaspirate kini menjadi sumber sel punca mesenkimal yang sangat potensial bagi riset maupun untuk aplikasi klinis. Metode sederhana isolasi sel punca mesenkimal yang dapat diaplikasikan pada laboratorium dasar akan memfasilitasi perkembangan riset sel punca di negara berkembang. Diharapkan, hasil studi ini dapat meningkatkan pengembangan riset sel punca di Indonesia.Metode Lipoaspirate dicerna dengan enzim collagenase type I kemudian dilakukan filtrasi. Pemurnian sel punca mesenkimal dilakukan dengan mengkultur sel selama 2-3 hari disusul dengan pembuangan supernatan. Konfirmasi populasi yang homogen dilakukan melalui analisis sel dengan metode flowcytometry sesuai dengan kriteria dari Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society of Cell Therapy.Hasil Sel punca mesenkimal yang dapat diperoleh dengan menggunakan prosedur ini adalah sebanyak 16,41 ± 8,22 x 108 sel per 120 ml lipoaspirate. Sel hasil kultur menunjukan morfologi fibroblastik, sesuai dengan karakteristik sel punca mesenkimal dan berhasil dipurifikasi dari sel lainnya. Hal ini dikonfirmasi dengan analisis flowcytometry yang menunjukan ekpresi CD105, tanpa adanya ekspresi HLA-Class II, CD 45, CD 34, CD14, and CD19.Kesimpulan Studi ini menunjukan bahwa sel punca mesenkimal dapat diisolasi dari lipoaspirate secara sederhana. Prosedur ini sangat memungkinkan untuk dilakukan di laboratorium dasar. (Med J Indones 2009; 18:91-6) AbstractAim Lipoaspirate, a wasted by product from liposuction procedure recently has been shown to contain abundant mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs have been studied in many research areas to regenerate many cell lineages including, myogenic, cardiomyogenic, and angiogenic lineages. The large quantity of MSCs in lipoaspirate, makes it an attractive source for stem cells used in research and clinical applications. A simplified method which is suitable to be performed in a basic laboratory will facilitate development of stem cell research in developing countries. Therefore the outcomes from this study are expected to encourage the progress of stem cell research in Indonesia.Methods Lipoaspirate was digested using collagenase type I, followed by a basic filtration method. Purification of MSCs was done by cell culture for 2-3 days followed by supernatant removal. To confirm the homogenous population of MSCs, an analysis using flowcytometry was performed based on the MSCs minimal criteria developed by Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society of Cell Therapy.Resuts MSCs were able to be obtained at 16.41 ± 8.22 x 108 cells per 120 ml lipoaspirate. The cultured cells showed fibroblastic morphology which is characteristic for MSCs and were able to be purified from non-MSCs cells. This was confirmed by flowcytometry assay showing expression of CD105 and the absence of HLA-Class II, CD 45, CD 34, CD14, and CD19. ConclusionsThis study has shown that it was feasible to isolate messenchymal stem ...

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a unique bioactive lysophospholipid that induces pleiotropic effects in various cell types and organisms by acting on its specific receptors. LPA is mainly synthetised extracellularly by the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2/autotaxin (enpp2). Altered LPA signalling is associated with embryonic abnormalities, suggesting critical roles for LPA during development. However, the role of LPA signalling during early embryogenesis is not well established. We demonstrate that enpp2/LPA signalling in the early zebrafish embryo results in altered axis and midline formation, defects in left right (L-R) patterning, ciliogenesis of the Kupffer’s vesicle (KV), through the modulation of cell migration during gastrulation in a lpar1–3 Rho/ROCK-dependant manner. Overall, this study demonstrates an essential role of enpp2/LPA signalling during early embryogenesis.

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