Application of human embryonic stem cells overexpressing FGF2 after ventral root avulsion: neuroprotection and immunomodulation

• Grant number: 13/23030-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal researcher: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira
• Grantee: Marta Rocha Araujo
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Traumatic injuries of the spinal cord resulting in severe neurological deficits and, in most cases, irreversible. The nerve root avulsion is a type of spinal injury that triggers a cascade of molecular events that lead to retrograde degeneration of nerve fibers and neuronal death in the spinal cord, leading to degeneration of about 80% of the motoneurons two weeks after the injury. Thus, the motor avulsion has been a reproducible experimental model of motor neuron degeneration in mice. Several studies have shown the benefits of cell therapy using stem cells in neuroprotection of injured motoneurons and, consequently, in increased neuronal survival. Other studies have shown that therapy with fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) stimulates neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity in models of neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of FGF2 on the spinal alpha motoneurons in Lewis rats after avulsion motor. For that, we constructed bioengineered human embryonic stem cell (hES) cells which overexpress human FGF2 in an inducible mode. The animals will be divided into the following groups: Group 1 - avulsion motor + fibrin sealant; Group 2 - avulsion motor + fibrin sealant + FGF2, Group 3 - Group 3 - avulsion motor + fibrin sealant + injection of hES-FGF2-GFP + doxycycline, Group 4 - avulsion motor + fibrin sealant + injection of hES-FGF2-GFP; Group 5 - avulsion motor + fibrin sealant + injection of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). To evaluate the expression of GFAP, Iba-1, synaptophysin and OX-42 will use the technique of immunohistochemistry; to evaluate the survival of sensory and medullary motor neurons, we will use the Nissl staining and subsequent quantitative analysis (stereological) by light microscopy. As for the evaluation and relative quantification of gene expression TNFa, IL1², IL10, MHC-I, CD3, BDNF and GDNFwe will use the technique qRT-PC.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARAUJO, MARTA ROCHA; KYRYLENKO, SERGIY; SPEJO, ALINE BARROSO; CASTRO, MATEUS VIDIGAL; FERREIRA JUNIOR, RUI SEABRA; BARRAVIERA, BENEDITO; RODRIGUES OLIVEIRA, ALEXANDRE LEITE. Transgenic human embryonic stem cells overexpressing FGF2 stimulate neuroprotection following spinal cord ventral root avulsion. Experimental Neurology, v. 294, p. 45-57, AUG 2017. Web of Science Citations: 8.

BISCOLA, NATALIA PERUSSI; CARTAROZZI, LUCIANA POLITTI; ULIAN-BENITEZ, SUZANA; BARBIZAN, ROBERTA; CASTRO, MATEUS VIDIGAL; SPEJO, ALINE BARROSO; FERREIRA, JR., RUI SEABRA; BARRAVIERA, BENEDITO; RODRIGUES OLIVEIRA, ALEXANDRE LEITE. Multiple uses of fibrin sealant for nervous system treatment following injury and disease. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v. 23, n. 1 MAR 14 2017. Web of Science Citations: 19.

NATALIA PERUSSI BISCOLA; LUCIANA POLITTI CARTAROZZI; SUZANA ULIAN-BENITEZ; ROBERTA BARBIZAN; MATEUS VIDIGAL CASTRO; ALINE BARROSO SPEJO; RUI SEABRA FERREIRA JR.; BENEDITO BARRAVIERA; ALEXANDRE LEITE RODRIGUES OLIVEIRA. Multiple uses of fibrin sealant for nervous system treatment following injury and disease. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v. 23, p. -, 2017.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ARAUJO, Marta Rocha. Use of human embryonic stem cells with overexpression of FGF2 after ventral root avulsion : neuroprotection and immunomodulation. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia.