Zucheng Huang , Junyu Lin (1,) , Hui Jiang , Wanrong Lin , Zhiping Huang , Jiayu Chen , Wende Xiao , Qiong Lin , Jun Wang , Shifeng Wen , Qingan Zhu , Junhao Liu
{"title":"Metformin promotes Schwann cell remyelination, preserves neural tissue and improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury","authors":"Zucheng Huang , Junyu Lin (1,) , Hui Jiang , Wanrong Lin , Zhiping Huang , Jiayu Chen , Wende Xiao , Qiong Lin , Jun Wang , Shifeng Wen , Qingan Zhu , Junhao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.npep.2023.102348","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>Patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) usually suffer lifelong disability as a result. Considering this, SCI </span>treatment<span> and pathology study are urgently needed. Metformin, a widely used </span></span>hypoglycemic drug<span><span><span>, has been indicated for its important role in central nervous system diseases<span>. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of metformin on remyelination after SCI. In the present study, we established a cervical contusion SCI model and metformin treatment was applied after SCI. Biomechanical parameters and behavioral assessment were used to evaluate the </span></span>severity of injury<span> and the improvement of functional recovery after SCI, respectively. The immunofluorescence and </span></span>western blot<span> were performed at the terminal time point. Our results showed that treating with metformin after SCI improved functional recovery by reducing the white matter loss and promoting Schwann cell<span><span> remyelination, and the Nrg1/ErbB signaling pathway may be involved in promoting remyelination mediated by </span>oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. In addition, the area of spared tissues was significantly increased in the metformin group. However, metformin had no significant effects on the glial scar and inflammation after SCI. In summary, these findings indicated that the role of metformin in Schwann cell remyelination after SCI was probably related to the regulation of the Nrg1/ErbB pathway. It is, therefore, possible to suggest that metformin may be a potential therapy for SCI.</span></span></span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":19254,"journal":{"name":"Neuropeptides","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuropeptides","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014341792300029X","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) usually suffer lifelong disability as a result. Considering this, SCI treatment and pathology study are urgently needed. Metformin, a widely used hypoglycemic drug, has been indicated for its important role in central nervous system diseases. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of metformin on remyelination after SCI. In the present study, we established a cervical contusion SCI model and metformin treatment was applied after SCI. Biomechanical parameters and behavioral assessment were used to evaluate the severity of injury and the improvement of functional recovery after SCI, respectively. The immunofluorescence and western blot were performed at the terminal time point. Our results showed that treating with metformin after SCI improved functional recovery by reducing the white matter loss and promoting Schwann cell remyelination, and the Nrg1/ErbB signaling pathway may be involved in promoting remyelination mediated by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. In addition, the area of spared tissues was significantly increased in the metformin group. However, metformin had no significant effects on the glial scar and inflammation after SCI. In summary, these findings indicated that the role of metformin in Schwann cell remyelination after SCI was probably related to the regulation of the Nrg1/ErbB pathway. It is, therefore, possible to suggest that metformin may be a potential therapy for SCI.
期刊介绍：
The aim of Neuropeptides is the rapid publication of original research and review articles, dealing with the structure, distribution, actions and functions of peptides in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The explosion of research activity in this field has led to the identification of numerous naturally occurring endogenous peptides which act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or trophic factors, to mediate nervous system functions. Increasing numbers of non-peptide ligands of neuropeptide receptors have been developed, which act as agonists or antagonists in peptidergic systems.
The journal provides a unique opportunity of integrating the many disciplines involved in all neuropeptide research. The journal publishes articles on all aspects of the neuropeptide field, with particular emphasis on gene regulation of peptide expression, peptide receptor subtypes, transgenic and knockout mice with mutations in genes for neuropeptides and peptide receptors, neuroanatomy, physiology, behaviour, neurotrophic factors, preclinical drug evaluation, clinical studies, and clinical trials.
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