NG2 and phosphacan are present in the astroglial scar after human traumatic spinal cord injury

BMC Neurology, 2009 · DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-9-32 · Published: July 15, 2009

Spinal Cord Injury Biochemistry Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Following a spinal cord injury, the body's attempt to repair the damage can sometimes hinder nerve regeneration. This study looks at specific molecules, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), that are known to inhibit axon growth and are found in scar tissue after injury. The researchers examined the presence of four CSPGs – NG2, neurocan, versican, and phosphacan – in spinal cord tissue samples from individuals who had experienced traumatic spinal cord injuries. They compared these samples to those from individuals without such injuries. The study found that NG2 and phosphacan were present in the astroglial scar, which is a type of scar tissue formed by astrocytes after injury. This suggests that these molecules might play a role in preventing successful nerve regeneration in the central nervous system after a spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

4 control patients and 15 patients with traumatic SCI

Evidence Level

Level 4, Immunohistochemical investigation

Key Findings

1
NG2 and phosphacan were both detected in the evolving astroglial scar after human SCI, suggesting they might hinder CNS regeneration.
2
Neurocan and versican were primarily found in the lesion epicentre, associated with Schwann cell myelin on regenerating peripheral nerve fibres, unlikely to inhibit CNS axon regeneration.
3
In control spinal cord, NG2 immunoreactivity was restricted to stellate-shaped cells corresponding to oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

Research Summary

This study investigates the expression patterns of CSPG family members (NG2, neurocan, versican, and phosphacan) in post-mortem human spinal cord samples after traumatic SCI to understand their role in failed axonal regeneration. The findings reveal that NG2 and phosphacan are present in the astroglial scar, potentially contributing to the inhibition of CNS regeneration, while neurocan and versican are located in the lesion epicentre associated with Schwann cells. The study highlights the importance of correlative investigations between experimental animal models and human post-mortem tissues to identify key functional molecules involved in the failure of axonal regeneration after human SCI.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Targeting

Targeting NG2 and phosphacan in the astroglial scar could potentially promote axonal regeneration after SCI.

Diagnostic Marker

NG2 and phosphacan could serve as diagnostic markers for assessing the severity and progression of scar formation after SCI.

Understanding CSPG Roles

Further research is needed to fully understand the individual roles of different CSPGs in the complex process of SCI recovery.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of human tissue specimens and varying survival times make it difficult to fully capture the temporal dynamics of CSPG expression.
2
Post-mortem tissue quality can be affected by delays in fixation, potentially impacting the accurate representation of CSPG distribution.
3
Inability to definitively prove the peripheral source of all nerve fibers within the lesion core.

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