Wu-Fu Chen1,2,3, Chun-Hong Chen4, Nan-Fu Chen5, Chun-Sung Sung6,7, Zhi-Hong Wen3,4. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Xiamen, China. 3. Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 4. Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 5. Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 6. Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
AIMS: To date, no reliable methods have proven effective for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). Even systemic administration of methylprednisolone (MP) remains controversial. We previously reported that intrathecal (i.t.) administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves outcome after experimental spinal cord ischemic insults in rats. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective efficacy of i.t. G-CSF or MP in rats with SCI. METHODS: Female rats were subjected to spinal cord contusion injury at T10 using NYU impactor. We i.t. administered G-CSF (10 μg) or MP (one bolus of 100 μg, followed by 18 μg/h infusion for 23 h) immediately after SCI. RESULTS: Both G-CSF and MP significantly improved the rats' motor function after SCI. Immunofluorescence staining revealed suppressed expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (neurocan and phosphacan), OX-42 and tumor necrosis factor alpha after i.t. G-CSF, but not MP, in rats with SCI. In addition, G-CSF significantly decreased the expression of astrocytic TGF-β1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein around the injury site. Furthermore, rats with G-CSF treatment showed increased neurofilament expression beyond the glial scars. CONCLUSION: Direct i.t. administration of G-CSF provides a promising therapeutic option for SCI or related spinal diseases.
AIMS: To date, no reliable methods have proven effective for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). Even systemic administration of methylprednisolone (MP) remains controversial. We previously reported that intrathecal (i.t.) administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves outcome after experimental spinal cord ischemic insults in rats. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective efficacy of i.t. G-CSF or MP in rats with SCI. METHODS: Female rats were subjected to spinal cord contusion injury at T10 using NYU impactor. We i.t. administered G-CSF (10 μg) or MP (one bolus of 100 μg, followed by 18 μg/h infusion for 23 h) immediately after SCI. RESULTS: Both G-CSF and MP significantly improved the rats' motor function after SCI. Immunofluorescence staining revealed suppressed expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (neurocan and phosphacan), OX-42 and tumor necrosis factor alpha after i.t. G-CSF, but not MP, in rats with SCI. In addition, G-CSF significantly decreased the expression of astrocytic TGF-β1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein around the injury site. Furthermore, rats with G-CSF treatment showed increased neurofilament expression beyond the glial scars. CONCLUSION: Direct i.t. administration of G-CSF provides a promising therapeutic option for SCI or related spinal diseases.
Authors: Pauline Dergham; Benjamin Ellezam; Charles Essagian; Hovsep Avedissian; William D Lubell; Lisa McKerracher Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2002-08-01 Impact factor: 6.167