The circadian clock time tunes axonal regeneration.

Nerve injuries cause permanent neurological disability due to limited axonal regeneration. Injury-dependent and -independent mechanisms have provided important insight into neuronal regeneration, however, common denominators underpinning regeneration remain elusive. A comparative analysis of transcriptomic datasets associated with neuronal regenerative ability revealed circadian rhythms as the most significantly enriched pathway.

The Effects of the Combination of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Nanofiber-Hydrogel Composite on Repair of the Contused Spinal Cord.

A bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplant and a bioengineered nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC) have been shown to stimulate nervous tissue repair in the contused spinal cord in rodent models. Here, these two modalities were combined to assess their repair effects in the contused spinal cord in adult rats. Cohorts of contused rats were treated with MSC in NHC (MSC-NHC), MSC in phosphate-buffered saline (MSC-PBS), NHC, or PBS injected into the contusion site at 3 days post-injury.

The Effect of Inflammatory Priming on the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Spinal Cord Repair.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are used for cell therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) because of their ability to support tissue repair by paracrine signaling. Preclinical and clinical research testing MSC transplants for SCI have revealed limited success, which warrants the exploration of strategies to improve their therapeutic efficacy. MSC are sensitive to the microenvironment and their secretome can be altered in vitro by exposure to different culture media.

Macrophage-Derived Inflammation Induces a Transcriptome Makeover in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Enhancing Their Potential for Tissue Repair.

Pre-clinical and clinical studies revealed that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplants elicit tissue repair. Conditioning MSC prior to transplantation may boost their ability to support repair. We investigated macrophage-derived inflammation as a means to condition MSC by comprehensively analyzing their transcriptome and secretome.

The effect of a nanofiber-hydrogel composite on neural tissue repair and regeneration in the contused spinal cord.

An injury to the spinal cord causes long-lasting loss of nervous tissue because endogenous nervous tissue repair and regeneration at the site of injury is limited. We engineered an injectable nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC) with interfacial bonding to provide mechanical strength and porosity and examined its effect on repair and neural tissue regeneration in an adult rat model of spinal cord contusion. At 28 days after treatment with NHC, the width of the contused spinal cord segment was 2-fold larger than in controls.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Macrophage Choreography Supporting Spinal Cord Repair.

Spinal cord injury results in destructive events that lead to tissue loss and functional impairments. A hallmark of spinal cord injury is the robust and persistent presence of inflammatory macrophages. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to benefit repair of the damaged spinal cord often associated with improved functional recovery.

Biomaterials for revascularization and immunomodulation after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes immediate damage to the nervous tissue accompanied by loss of motor and sensory function. The limited self-repair competence of injured nervous tissue underscores the need for reparative interventions to recover function after SCI. The vasculature of the spinal cord plays a crucial role in SCI and repair.