Axonal regrowth after spinal cord injury via chondroitinase and the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasmin system.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes permanent debilitation due to the inability of axons to grow through established scars. Both the sugar chains and core proteins of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are inhibitory for neurite regrowth. Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) degrades the sugar chains and allows for synaptic plasticity, suggesting that after the sugar chain cleavage additional steps occur promoting a permissive microenvironment in the glial scar region. We report that the clearance of the core protein by the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasmin proteolytic system partially contributes to ChABC-promoted plasticity. tPA and plasmin are upregulated after SCI and degrade the deglycosylated CSPG proteins. Mice lacking tPA (tPA(-/-)) exhibit attenuated neurite outgrowth and blunted sensory and motor recovery despite ChABC treatment. Coadministration of ChABC and plasmin enhanced the tPA(-/-) phenotype and supported recovery in WT SCI mice. Collectively, these findings show that the tPA/plasmin cascade may act downstream of ChABC to allow for synergistic sensory and motor improvement compared with each treatment alone and suggest a potential new approach to enhance functional recovery after SCI.
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Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Bukhari, N; Torres, L; Robinson, JK; Tsirka, SE
Published Date
- October 19, 2011
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 31 / 42
Start / End Page
- 14931 - 14943
PubMed ID
- 22016526
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3206287
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1529-2401
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3339-11.2011
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States