Self-assembling Peptide Reduces Glial Scarring, Attenuates Posttraumatic Inflammation, and Promotes Neurite Outgrowth of Spinal Motor Neurons

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K10398
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Ando Kei 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (40566973)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 今釜 史郎 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (40467288) ; 伊藤 全哉 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (50447819) ; 小林 和克 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 病院助教 (00706294) ; 飛田 哲朗 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (80566399) ; 伊藤 研悠 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (10732638)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: fibrous scar / glial scar / neurite outgrowth / scaffold / spinal cord injury

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Methods. We examined the effect of a self-assembling peptide, SPG-178, as a scaffold for neurite outgrowth of spinal motor neurons in vitro. An in vivo analysis was performed to evaluate if the SPG-178 scaffold attenuated or enhanced expression of various genes after spinal cord injury model rats. Results. Expression of NGF, BDNF, NT-4, TrkA, and TrkB increased in SPG-178-promoted neurite outgrowth of motor neurons in vitro. In vivo, SPG-178 increased expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and NGF, and decreased glial scar. Conclusion. This study provides new evidence for the role of SPG-178 as a scaffold in the spinal cord and suggests that this peptide is a neuroprotective factor that may serve as an alternative treatment for neuronal injuries.

Free Research Field

脊髄再生

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の研究では損傷神経を再生する試みが幾つかなされている。ES、IPSを含む神経幹細胞、骨髄幹細胞、シュワン細胞、歯髄幹細胞治療に神経栄養因子、神経再生抑制因子阻害剤の併用が有効であることが明らかとなり、脊髄損傷後の再生医療を中心とした期待が高まっている。しかし移植の損傷部位への有効性を高めるためには、移植細胞の分化の方向性を誘導する神経栄養因子および移植細胞の足場(scaffold)の併用が必須とされる。