Neuroregeneration of injured peripheral nerve by fraction B of catfish epidermal secretions through the reversal of the apoptotic pathway and DNA damage

Abstract

Introduction: Crush injuries occur from acute traumatic nerve compression resulting in different degrees of neural damage leading to permanent functional deficits. Recently, we have shown that administration of Fraction B (FB) derived from catfish epidermal secretions accelerates healing of damaged nerve in a sciatic nerve crush injury, as it ameliorates the neurobehavioral deficits and enhances axonal regeneration, as well as protects spinal neurons and increases astrocytic activity and decreasing GAP-43 expression. The present study aimed to investigate the role of FB treatment on the apoptotic pathway in the neuroregeneration of the sciatic nerve crush injury.Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups: (I) SHAM, (II) CRUSH, (III) CRUSH + (1.5 mg/kg) FB, (IV) CRUSH + (3 mg/kg) FB, and (V) CRUSH + (4.5 mg/kg) FB. Rats underwent sciatic nerve crush surgery, followed by treatment with FB administered intraperitoneally (IP) daily for two weeks and then sacrificed at the end of the fourth week.Results: FB improved the recovery of neurobehavioral functions with a concomitant increase in axonal regeneration and neuroprotective effects on spinal cord neurons following crush injury. Further, FB enhanced Schwann cells (SCs) proliferation with a significant increase in myelin basic protein expression. FB-treated animals demonstrated higher numbers of neurons in the spinal cord, possibly through ameliorating oxidative DNA damage and alleviating the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3 in the spinal cord neurons.Conclusion: FB alleviates the neurodegenerative changes in the lumbar spinal cord neurons and recovers the decrease in the neuronal count through its anti-apoptotic and DNA antioxidative properties.

Oxidized Cholesterol Derivatives in Fraction B Prepared from Gulf Catfish (Arius bilineatus, Val.) Skin Regulate Calcium Response and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) Formation

“…We suggest that a semi-pure preparation, as in the previously described FB fraction by Al Hassan, with all its diversity (protein growth factors [5] and lipid anti-inflammatory compounds [6,[8][9][10] would offer a wider beneficial value than single purified compounds for the therapeutic management of disease. The FB preparation in its diversity of material has shown safety [7], effectiveness [8] and utility in several unrelated disease indications [5,7].…”

“…The semi purified preparation containing lipids and proteins, named Fraction B (FB) was shown to accelerate wound healing and healing of highly infected diabetic foot ulcers, control the growth of pancreatic cancer [8] and to effect regeneration of injured sciatic nerves [7]. Within the lipid fraction, we have demonstrated the presence of a cholesterol metabolite (previously named S-5 viz.…”

“…The present study is part of an interesting utilization of the above process, with an ongoing investigation initiated by one of the authors (J.M.A.-H.) decades ago that seeks to investigate the properties of an epidermally released gel, first in its crude form and then after partial purification in order to identify further actions and even to identify individual proteins and lipids within this gel [3]. The semi purified gel and fractions within it has been shown to possess platelet aggregating substances, pain suppressing actions, and wound healing properties in people and was seen to repair damaged blood vessels in rodents [4][5][6][7].…”