Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Combined with Methylprednisolone Improves Functional Outcomes in Rats with Experimental Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the effects of combined treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and methylprednisolone in rats subjected to experimental spinal cord injury.METHODS:Forty Wistar rats received a moderate spinal cord injury and were divided into four groups: control (no treatment); G-CSF (G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days); methylprednisolone (methylprednisolone for 24 h); and G-CSF/Methylprednisolone (methylprednisolone for 24 h and G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days). Functional evaluation was performed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score on days 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 following injury. Motor-evoked potentials were evaluated. Histological examination of the spinal cord lesion was performed immediately after euthanasia on day 42.RESULTS:Eight animals were excluded (2 from each group) due to infection, a normal Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score at their first evaluation, or autophagy, and 32 were evaluated. The combination of methylprednisolone and G-CSF promoted greater functional improvement than methylprednisolone or G-CSF alone (p<0.001). This combination also exhibited a synergistic effect, with improvements in hyperemia and cellular infiltration at the injury site (p<0.001). The groups displayed no neurophysiological differences (latency p=0.85; amplitude p=0.75).CONCLUSION:Methylprednisolone plus G-CSF promotes functional and histological improvements superior to those achieved by either of these drugs alone when treating spinal cord contusion injuries in rats. Combining the two drugs did have a synergistic effect.

Lack of Synergistic Outcomes with Roflumilast Combined with Levetiracetam or Adipose Stem Cell Secretome After Spinal Cord Injury

“…Another combination tested was the methylprednisolone and the Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor G-CSF. This combination promoted functional and histological improvements superior to those achieved by either of these drugs alone, demonstrating a synergistic effect [46]. Recently, Michael Fehling's lab published a systematic meta-analysis that demonstrated that a combined application of scaffolds and MSCs is more effective than scaffolds and MSCs alone in improving motor function following SCI in animal models when used in the acute phase of injury [47].…”

Exploring causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization

“…GCSF is a hematopoietic growth factor influencing the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of hematopoietic cells. 44 , 45 GCSF has the capacity to inhibit apoptotic factors and promote anti‐apoptotic factors and anti‐inflammatory factors on host cells. 46 In general, GCSF plays its role in anti‐apoptotic effect via increasing BCL‐2 expression and inhibiting Bax expression and results in subsequent inhibition of caspase‐3 activation.…”

Serum sST2 Correlates with Left Atrial Low-Voltage Areas and Is Associated With Procedure Outcome in Patients Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Radiofrequency Ablation

“…Furthermore, the combination of LAD and biomarker sST2 as combined index to predict atrial fibrosis and the outcome of AF post-procedure was more effective than that of single index. Similar methods has not only been applied in the treatment of some diseases 34,39,40 , but also in the prediction model of disease progression and outcome 41,42 .…”