Effect of lentiviral vector-mediated overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha delivered by pluronic F-127 hydrogel on brachial plexus avulsion in rats.
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ABSTRACT: Brachial plexus avulsion often results in massive motor neuron death and severe functional deficits of target muscles. However, no satisfactory treatment is currently available. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1? is a critical molecule targeting several genes associated with ischemia-hypoxia damage and angiogenesis. In this study, a rat model of brachial plexus avulsion-reimplantation was established, in which C5-7 ventral nerve roots were avulsed and only the C6 root reimplanted. Different implants were immediately injected using a microsyringe into the avulsion-reimplantation site of the C6 root post-brachial plexus avulsion. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: phosphate-buffered saline, negative control of lentivirus, hypoxia-inducible factor 1? (hypoxia-inducible factor 1? overexpression lentivirus), gel (pluronic F-127 hydrogel), and gel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? (pluronic F-127 hydrogel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? overexpression lentivirus). The Terzis grooming test was performed to assess recovery of motor function. Scores were higher in the hypoxia-inducible factor 1? and gel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? groups (in particular the gel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? group) compared with the phosphate-buffered saline group. Electrophysiology, fluorogold retrograde tracing, and immunofluorescent staining were further performed to investigate neural pathway reconstruction and changes of neurons, motor endplates, and angiogenesis. Compared with the phosphate-buffered saline group, action potential latency of musculocutaneous nerves was markedly shortened in the hypoxia-inducible factor 1? and gel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? groups. Meanwhile, the number of fluorogold-positive cells and ChAT-positive neurons, neovascular area (labeled by CD31 around avulsed sites in ipsilateral spinal cord segments), and the number of motor endplates in biceps brachii (identified by ?-bungarotoxin) were all visibly increased, as well as the morphology of motor endplate in biceps brachil was clear in the hypoxia-inducible factor 1? and gel + hypoxia-inducible factor 1? groups. Taken together, delivery of hypoxia-inducible factor 1? overexpression lentiviral vectors mediated by pluronic F-127 effectively promotes spinal root regeneration and functional recovery post-brachial plexus avulsion. All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Guangdong Medical University, China.
SUBMITTER: Wang T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6404506 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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