The linear-ordered collagen scaffold-BDNF complex significantly promotes functional recovery after completely transected spinal cord injury in canine.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is still a worldwide clinical challenge for which there is no viable therapeutic method. We focused on developing combinatorial methods targeting the complex pathological process of SCI. In this study, we implanted linear-ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) fibers with collagen binding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by tagging a collagen-binding domain (CBD) (LOCS + CBD-BDNF) in completely transected canine SCI with multisystem rehabilitation to validate its potential therapeutic effect through a long-term (38 weeks) observation. We found that LOCS + CBD-BDNF implants strikingly promoted locomotion and functional sensory recovery, with some dogs standing unassisted and transiently moving. Further histological analysis showed that administration of LOCS + CBD-BDNF reduced lesion volume, decreased collagen deposits, promoted axon regeneration and improved myelination, leading to functional recovery. Collectively, LOCS + CBD-BDNF showed striking therapeutic effect on completely transected canine SCI model and it is the first time to report such breakthrough in the war with SCI. Undoubtedly, it is a potentially promising therapeutic method for SCI paralysis or other movement disorders caused by neurological diseases in the future.

• Authors: Sufang Han, Bin Wang, Wei Jin, Zhifeng Xiao, Xing Li, Wenyong Ding, Meghan Kapur, Bing Chen, Baoyu Yuan, Tiansheng Zhu, Handong Wang, Jing Wang, Qun Dong, Weibang Liang, Jianwu Dai
• Journal: Biomaterials (Biomaterials) Vol. 41 Pg. 89-96 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1878-5905 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25522968 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Collagen

Topics

• Animals
• Axons (drug effects, pathology)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (pharmacology)
• Cattle
• Collagen (pharmacology)
• Dogs
• Humans
• Myelin Sheath (metabolism)
• Nerve Regeneration (drug effects)
• Recovery of Function (drug effects)
• Spinal Cord (drug effects, pathology, ultrastructure)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (pathology, physiopathology, therapy)
• Tissue Scaffolds (chemistry)