Welcome
Welcome to the Spinal Cord Injury Research web site. Our goal is to disseminate the latest SCI information to both the public and research organizations. In doing so, we hope to be a resource for both researchers and those living with spinal cord injury and other forms of paralysis. Here you will find information on current spinal cord injury research, recent articles, and clinical trials. Spinal Cord Injury Research also maintains a list of funding resources for researchers as well as promoting advocacy efforts. This site is under development so please contact SCIR with any suggestions or comments you may have.When contacting SCI Research please include your email address so we may respond to your inquiry.
| June 22nd, 2009 Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor transplants in collagen scaffolds promote recovery in injured rat spinal cord We report on the generation of NPC as neural-like tubes in adherent and feeder-free hESC using a defined media supplemented with growth factors, and their transplantation in collagen scaffolds in adult rats subjected to midline lateral hemisection SCI. hESC-NPC were highly expressed molecular features of NPC such as Nestin, Sox1 and Pax6. Furthermore, these cells exhibited the multipotential characteristic of differentiating into neurons and glials in vitro. Implantation of xenografted hESC-NPC into the spinal cord with collagen scaffold improved the recovery of hindlimb locomotor function and sensory responses in an adult rat model of SCI. Analysis of transplanted cells showed migration toward the spinal cord and both neural and glial differentiation in vivo. |
| June 22nd, 2009 P90 Ribosomal s6 kinase 2 negatively regulates axon growth in motoneurons Mutations in Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2 (Rsk2) are associated with severe neuronal dysfunction in Coffin-Lowry Syndrome (CLS) patients, flies and mice. So far, the mechanisms how Rsk2 regulates development, maintenance and activity of neurons are not understood. We have investigated the consequences of Rsk2 deficiency in mouse spinal motoneurons. Survival of isolated Rsk2 deficient motoneurons is not reduced, but these cells grow significantly longer neurites. Conversely, overexpression of a constitutively active form of Rsk2 leads to reduced axon growth. Increased axon growth in Rsk2 deficient neurons was accompanied by higher Erk 1/2 phosphorylation, and the knockout phenotype could be rescued by pharmacological inhibition of MAPK/Erk kinase (Mek). These data indicate that Rsk2 negatively regulates axon elongation via the MAPK pathway. Thus, the functional defects observed in the nervous system of CLS patients and animal models with Rsk2 deficiency might be caused by dysregulated neurite growth rather than prima |
| June 9th, 2009 Axonal mRNAs: Characterisation and role in the growth and regeneration of dorsal root ganglion axons and growth cones We have developed a compartmentalised culture model for the purification of axonal mRNA from embryonic, neonatal and adult rat dorsal root ganglia. This mRNA was used un-amplified for RT-qPCR. We assayed for the presence of axonal mRNAs encoding molecules known to be involved in axon growth and guidance. mRNAs for ?-actin, ?-tubulin, and several molecules involved in the control of actin dynamics and signalling during axon growth were found, but mRNAs for microtubule-associated proteins, integrins and cell surface adhesion molecules were absent. Quantification of ?-actin mRNA by means of qPCR showed that the transcript is present at the same level in embryonic, newborn and adult axons. Using the photoconvertible reporter Kaede we showed that there is local translation of ?-actin in axons, the rate being increased by axotomy. Knock down of ?-actin mRNA by RNAi inhibited the regeneration of new axon growth cones after in vitro axotomy, indicating that local translation of actin-related molecules is important fo |
| May 28th, 2009 Accelerated release of a sparingly soluble drug from an injectable hyaluronan-methylcellulose hydrogel. An injectable hydrogel, comprised of hyaluronan and methylcellulose (HAMC), shows promise for localized, sustained delivery of growth factors for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). To better understand its potential for the delivery of small molecules, the release of sparingly soluble neuroprotectant, nimodipine, was investigated experimentally and via continuum modeling. This revealed that the MC in HAMC increased the solubility of sparingly soluble drug by over an order of magnitude, and enabled highly tunable release rates to be achieved by varying the method by which the drug was introduced into the scaffold. When nimodipine was introduced into HAMC in solubilized form, it was rapidly released from the scaffold within 8 h. Conversely, when nimodipine was blended into HAMC in particulate form, the release rates were greatly reduced, giving rise to complete release over 2 - 3 days for small, sub-micron particles, and longer times for large, 100 mum particles. The nimodipine particle-loaded gels yielded |
| May 28th, 2009 Effects of extracellular matrix molecules on the growth properties of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in vitro The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a component of neural cell niches and regulates multiple functions of diverse cell types. To date, limited information is available concerning its biological effects on the growth properties of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). In the present study, we examined effects of several ECM components, i.e., fibronectin, laminin, and Matrigel, on the survival, proliferation, migration, process extension, and purity of OPCs isolated from embryonic day 15 rat spinal cords. All three ECM components enhanced these biological properties of the OPCs compared with a non-ECM substrate, poly-D-lysine. However, the extents of their effects were somewhat different. Among these ECMs, fibronectin showed the strongest effect on almost all aspects of the growth properties of OPCs, implying that this molecule is a better substrate for the growth of OPCs in vitro. Because of its survival- and growth-promoting effects on OPCs, fibronectin may be considered as a candidate substrate for enhancin |
May 18th - 21st 2009
2009 Bio International Convention
Atlanta, GA.
July 8th - 11th 2009
International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Meeting
Barcelona, Spain.
August 31st - September 3rd 2009
2nd World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society.
Seoul, South Korea.