Delivery of neurotrophin-3 by RVG-Lamp2b-modified mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes alleviates facial nerve injury.

We aim to investigate the effect of RVG-Lamp2b-modified exosomes (exos) loaded with neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on facial nerve injury. Exos were collected from control cells (Ctrl Exo) or bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells co-transfected with RVG-Lamp2b and NT-3 plasmids (RVG-NT-3 Exo) by gradient centrifugation and identified by western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Effect of RVG-NT-3 Exo on oxidative stress damage was determined by analysis of the morphology, viability, and ROS production of neurons.

Genetic association of hypertension and several other metabolic disorders with Bell's palsy.

Effects of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity on Bell's palsy risk remains unclear. The aim of the study was to explore whether hypertension and these metabolic disorders promoted Bell's palsy at the genetic level. Genetic variants from genome-wide association studies for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, body mass index and several lipid metabolites were adopted as instrumental variables.

Mitophagy protects SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells against the TNFα-induced inflammatory injury: Involvement of microRNA-145 and Bnip3.

Inflammatory response is involved in the development of facial neuritis. The aim of our study is to explore the role of mitophagy in facial nerve damage induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Our results indicated that TNFα induced SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Effect of chitosan combined with hyaluronate on promoting the recovery of postoperative facial nerve regeneration and function in rabbits.

To determine better solutions for postoperative nerve functional recovery, the effects of chitosan and hyaluronate on perineural scar formation and neural function recovery were investigated in 40 rabbits. Rabbits were randomized into 4 groups: A (chitosan), B (chitosan + hyaluronate), C (hyaluronate) and D (control). The rabbits underwent the same parotidectomy surgery, but different materials were used to cover the operated nerves.

Chitosan conduit combined with hyaluronic acid prevent sciatic nerve scar in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury.

In the present study, the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) combined with chitosan conduit on peripheral nerve scarring and regeneration were investigated in a rat model of peripheral nerve crush injury. A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups (15 rats in each group), in which the nerve was either not treated (control group) or treated with chitosan conduit, hyaluronic acid, or chitosan conduit coupled with hyaluronic acid following clamp injury to the sciatic nerve. The surgical sites were evaluated by assessing the sciatic functional index, the degree of scar adhesions, the numbers of myelinated nerve fibers, the average diameter of myelinated nerve fibers and the myelin sheath thickness.

Chitosan conduits combined with nerve growth factor microspheres repair facial nerve defects.

Microspheres containing nerve growth factor for sustained release were prepared by a compound method, and implanted into chitosan conduits to repair 10-mm defects on the right buccal branches of the facial nerve in rabbits. In addition, chitosan conduits combined with nerve growth factor or normal saline, as well as autologous nerve, were used as controls. At 90 days post-surgery, the muscular atrophy on the right upper lip was more evident in the nerve growth factor and normal sa-line groups than in the nerve growth factor-microspheres and autologous nerve groups.