Restoration of lost neuronal function after spinal cord injury (SCI) still remains a big challenge for current medicine. One important repair strategy is bridging the SCI lesion with a supportive and stimulatory milieu that would enable axonal rewiring. Injectable extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived hydrogels have been recently reported to have neurotrophic potential in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the presumed neuroregenerative properties of ECM hydrogels in vivo in the acute model of SCI. ECM hydrogels were prepared by decellularization of porcine spinal cord (SC) or porcine urinary bladder (UB), and injected into a spinal cord hemisection cavity. Histological analysis and real-time qPCR were performed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postinjection. Both types of hydrogels integrated into the lesion and stimulated neovascularization and axonal ingrowth into the lesion. On the other hand, massive infiltration of macrophages into the lesion and rapid hydrogel degradation did not prevent cyst formation, which progressively developed over 8 weeks. No significant differences were found between SC-ECM and UB-ECM. Gene expression analysis revealed significant downregulation of genes related to immune response and inflammation in both hydrogel types at 2 weeks post SCI. A combination of human mesenchymal stem cells with SC-ECM did not further promote ingrowth of axons and blood vessels into the lesion, when compared with the SC-ECM hydrogel alone. In conclusion, both ECM hydrogels bridged the lesion cavity, modulated the innate immune response, and provided the benefit of a stimulatory substrate for in vivo neural tissue regeneration. However, fast hydrogel degradation might be a limiting factor for the use of native ECM hydrogels in the treatment of acute SCI.

Neuroplasticity after ischaemic injury involves both spontaneous rewiring of neural networks and circuits as well as functional responses in neurogenic niches. These events involve complex interactions with activated microglia, which evolve in a dynamic manner over time. Although the exact mechanisms underlying these interactions remain poorly understood, increasing experimental evidence suggests a determining role of pro- and anti-inflammatory microglial activation profiles in shaping both synaptogenesis and neurogenesis. While the inflammatory response of microglia was thought to be detrimental, a more complex profile of the role of microglia in tissue remodelling is emerging. Experimental evidence suggests that microglia in response to injury can rapidly modify neuronal activity and modulate synaptic function, as well as be beneficial for the proliferation and integration of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from endogenous neurogenic niches into functional networks thereby supporting stroke recovery. The manner in which microglia contribute towards sculpting neural synapses and networks, both in terms of activity-dependent and homeostatic plasticity, suggests that microglia-mediated pro- and/or anti-inflammatory activity may significantly contribute towards spontaneous neuronal plasticity after ischaemic lesions. In this review, we first introduce some of the key cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroplasticity in stroke and then proceed to discuss the crosstalk between microglia and endogenous neuroplasticity in response to brain ischaemia with special focus on the engagement of synapses and neural networks and their implications for grey matter integrity and function in stroke repair.

One of the main challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is the ability to maintain optimal cell function and survival post-transplantation. Biomaterials such as alginates are commonly used for immunoisolation, while they may also provide structural support to the cell transplants by mimicking the extracellular matrix. In this study, arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD)-peptide-coupled alginates of tailored composition were produced by adopting a unique chemoenzymatic strategy for substituting the nongelling mannuronic acid on the alginate. Alginates with and without RGD were produced with high and low content of G. Using carbodiimide chemistry 0.1-0.2% of the sugar units were substituted by peptide. Furthermore, the characterization by (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed by-products from the coupling reaction that partly could be removed by coal filtration. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and myoblasts were grown in two-dimensional (2D) and 3D cultures of RGD-peptide modified or unmodified alginates obtained by the chemoenzymatically strategy and compared to native alginate. Both OECs and myoblasts adhered to the RGD-peptide modified alginates in 2D cultures, forming bipolar protrusions. OEC encapsulation resulted in cell survival for up to 9 days, thus demonstrating the potential for short-term 3D culture. Myoblasts showed long-term survival in 3D cultures, that is, up to 41 days post encapsulation. The RGD modifications did not result in marked changes in cell viability in 3D cultures. We demonstrate herein a unique technique for tailoring peptide substituted alginates with a precise and flexible composition, conserving the gel forming properties relevant for the use of alginate in tissue engineering.

The coordinated development of the nervous system requires fidelity in the expression of specific genes determining the different neural cell phenotypes. Stem cell fate decisions during neurodevelopment are strictly correlated with their epigenetic status. The epigenetic regulatory processes, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications discussed in this review article, may impact both neural stem cell (NSC) self-renewal and differentiation and thus play an important role in neurodevelopment. At the same time, stem cell decisions regarding fate commitment and differentiation are highly dependent on the temporospatial expression of specific genes contingent on the developmental stage of the nervous system. An interplay between the above, as well as basic cell processes, such as transcription regulation, DNA replication, cell cycle regulation and DNA repair therefore determine the accuracy and function of neuronal connections. This may significantly impact embryonic health and development as well as cognitive processes such as neuroplasticity and memory formation later in the adult.

Manganese oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) are capable of time‐dependent magnetic resonance imaging contrast switching as well as releasing a surface‐bound drug. MONPs give T2/T2* contrast, but dissolve and release T1‐active Mn2+ and L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine. Complementary images are acquired with a single contrast agent, and applications toward Parkinson's disease are suggested.

Neural network formation is a complex process involving axon outgrowth and guidance. Axon guidance is facilitated by structural and molecular cues from the surrounding microenvironment. Micro-fabrication techniques can be employed to produce microfluidic chips with a highly controlled microenvironment for neural cells enabling longitudinal studies of complex processes associated with network formation. In this work, we demonstrate a novel open microfluidic chip design that encompasses a freely variable number of nodes interconnected by axon-permissible tunnels, enabling structuring of multi-nodal neural networks in vitro. The chip employs a partially open design to allow high level of control and reproducibility of cell seeding, while reducing shear stress on the cells. We show that by culturing dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs) in our microfluidic chip, we were able to structure a neural network in vitro. These neurons were compartmentalized within six nodes interconnected through axon growth tunnels. Furthermore, we demonstrate the additional benefit of open top design by establishing a 3D neural culture in matrigel and a neuronal aggregate 3D culture within the chips. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a novel microfluidic chip design applicable to structuring complex neural networks in vitro, thus providing a versatile, highly relevant platform for the study of neural network dynamics applicable to developmental and regenerative neuroscience.

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of two proteins in fibrillar form: amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau. Despite decades of intensive research, we cannot yet pinpoint the exact cause of the disease or unequivocally determine the exact mechanism(s) underlying its progression. This confounds early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, which can reveal ongoing biochemical changes in the brain, can help monitor developing AD pathology prior to clinical diagnosis. Here we review preclinical and clinical investigations of commonly used biomarkers in animals and patients with AD, which can bridge translation from model systems into the clinic. The core AD biomarkers have been found to translate well across species, whereas biomarkers of neuroinflammation translate to a lesser extent. Nevertheless, there is no absolute equivalence between biomarkers in human AD patients and those examined in preclinical models in terms of revealing key pathological hallmarks of the disease. In this review, we provide an overview of current but also novel AD biomarkers and how they relate to key constituents of the pathological cascade, highlighting confounding factors and pitfalls in interpretation, and also provide recommendations for standardized procedures during sample collection to enhance the translational validity of preclinical AD models.