-
Radiology Case Reports Aug 2024Adrenal schwannoma is a rare tumor of Schwann cell origin that represents less than 0.2% of all adrenal tumors. These typically benign tumors are most often found in the...
Adrenal schwannoma is a rare tumor of Schwann cell origin that represents less than 0.2% of all adrenal tumors. These typically benign tumors are most often found in the head, neck, and limbs. However, schwannomas can also rarely occur rarely in the adrenal gland within the retroperitoneal cavity. In the adrenal gland, these tumors arise from the medulla and are difficult to diagnose, often misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant entities. In this article, we report the case of a 43-year-old female with a large left adrenal mass revealed by biopsy to be a schwannoma. We focus on the use of radiological imaging modalities and immunohistochemical analysis to optimize diagnosis and treatment intervention of this rare tumor.
PubMed: 38741689
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2024.04.036 -
Journal of Neuroinflammation May 2024HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a spectrum of cognitive impairments that continue to affect approximately half of all HIV-positive individuals despite...
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a spectrum of cognitive impairments that continue to affect approximately half of all HIV-positive individuals despite effective viral suppression through antiretroviral therapy (ART). White matter pathologies have persisted in the ART era, and the degree of white matter damage correlates with the degree of neurocognitive impairment in patients with HAND. The HIV protein Nef has been implicated in HAND pathogenesis, but its effect on white matter damage has not been well characterized. Here, utilizing in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro methods, we demonstrate that Nef-containing extracellular vesicles (Nef EVs) disrupt myelin sheaths and inflict damage upon oligodendrocytes within the murine central nervous system. Intracranial injection of Nef EVs leads to reduced myelin basic protein (MBP) staining and a decreased number of CC1 + oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum. Moreover, cerebellar slice cultures treated with Nef EVs exhibit diminished MBP expression and increased presence of unmyelinated axons. Primary mixed brain cultures and enriched oligodendrocyte precursor cell cultures exposed to Nef EVs display a decreased number of O4 + cells, indicative of oligodendrocyte impairment. These findings underscore the potential contribution of Nef EV-mediated damage to oligodendrocytes and myelin maintenance in the pathogenesis of HAND.
Topics: Animals; Oligodendroglia; Mice; Extracellular Vesicles; nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; HIV-1; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myelin Sheath; Central Nervous System; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Male
PubMed: 38741181
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03124-5 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology May 2024Biomaterials can modulate the local immune microenvironments to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. Inspired by the spatial orderly distribution and endogenous...
Biomaterials can modulate the local immune microenvironments to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. Inspired by the spatial orderly distribution and endogenous electric field of nerve fibers, we aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of electrical and topological cues on immune microenvironments of peripheral nerve regeneration. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) with aligned electrospun nanofibers were fabricated using a polyurethane copolymer containing a conductive aniline trimer and degradable L-lysine (PUAT). In vitro experiments showed that the aligned PUAT (A-PUAT) membranes promoted the recruitment of macrophages and induced their polarization towards the pro-healing M2 phenotype, which subsequently facilitated the migration and myelination of Schwann cells. Furthermore, NGCs fabricated from A-PUAT increased the proportion of pro-healing macrophages and improved peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential application of NGCs in peripheral nerve regeneration from an immunomodulatory perspective and revealed A-PUAT as a clinically-actionable strategy for peripheral nerve injury.
Topics: Animals; Nerve Regeneration; Polyurethanes; Rats; Macrophages; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Schwann Cells; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Nanofibers; Sciatic Nerve; Guided Tissue Regeneration; Male; Biocompatible Materials; Tissue Scaffolds; Mice; RAW 264.7 Cells
PubMed: 38735969
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02507-3 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are adult multipotent stem cells, able to differentiate toward neural elements other than cells of mesodermal lineage. The...
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are adult multipotent stem cells, able to differentiate toward neural elements other than cells of mesodermal lineage. The aim of this research was to test ASC neural differentiation using melatonin combined with conditioned media (CM) from glial cells. Isolated from the lipoaspirate of healthy donors, ASCs were expanded in a basal growth medium before undergoing neural differentiation procedures. For this purpose, CM obtained from olfactory ensheathing cells and from Schwann cells were used. In some samples, 1 µM of melatonin was added. After 1 and 7 days of culture, cells were studied using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry to evaluate neural marker expression (Nestin, MAP2, Synapsin I, GFAP) under different conditions. The results confirmed that a successful neural differentiation was achieved by glial CM, whereas the addition of melatonin alone did not induce appreciable changes. When melatonin was combined with CM, ASC neural differentiation was enhanced, as demonstrated by a further improvement of neuronal marker expression, whereas glial differentiation was attenuated. A dynamic modulation was also observed, testing the expression of melatonin receptors. In conclusion, our data suggest that melatonin's neurogenic differentiation ability can be usefully exploited to obtain neuronal-like differentiated ASCs for potential therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Melatonin; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Humans; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Adipose Tissue; Neurons; Culture Media, Conditioned; Schwann Cells; Neurogenesis; Adult; Nestin; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Neuroglia; Synapsins
PubMed: 38732109
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094891 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Neuropathy affects 7-10% of the general population and is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system. The limitations of current therapies highlight the...
Neuropathy affects 7-10% of the general population and is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system. The limitations of current therapies highlight the necessity of a new innovative approach to treating neuropathic pain (NP) based on the close correlation between oxidative stress, inflammatory process, and antioxidant action. The advantageous outcomes of a novel combination composed of Hop extract, Propolis, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin B, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) used as a treatment was evaluated in this study. To assess the absorption and biodistribution of the combination, its bioavailability was first examined in a 3D intestinal barrier model that replicated intestinal absorption. Further, a 3D nerve tissue model was developed to study the biological impacts of the combination during the essential pathways involved in NP. Our findings show that the combination could cross the intestinal barrier and reach the peripheral nervous system, where it modulates the oxidative stress, inflammation levels, and myelination mechanism (increased NRG, MPZ, ERB, and p75 levels) under Schwann cells damaging. This study proves the effectiveness of Ginkgo Biloba, Propolis, Hop extract, Vitamin B, and PEA in avoiding nerve damage and suggests a potential alternative nutraceutical treatment for NP and neuropathies.
Topics: Ethanolamines; Palmitic Acids; Animals; Neuralgia; Amides; Dietary Supplements; Plants, Medicinal; Polyphenols; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Rats; Male; Antioxidants; Ginkgo biloba; Humans
PubMed: 38732008
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094790 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jun 2024Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) frequently occur due to various factors, including mechanical trauma such as accidents or tool-related incidents, as well as... (Review)
Review
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) frequently occur due to various factors, including mechanical trauma such as accidents or tool-related incidents, as well as complications arising from diseases like tumor resection. These injuries frequently result in persistent numbness, impaired motor and sensory functions, neuropathic pain, or even paralysis, which can impose a significant financial burden on patients due to outcomes that often fall short of expectations. The most frequently employed clinical treatment for PNIs involves either direct sutures of the severed ends or bridging the proximal and distal stumps using autologous nerve grafts. However, autologous nerve transplantation may result in sensory and motor functional loss at the donor site, as well as neuroma formation and scarring. Transplantation of Schwann cells/Schwann cell-like cells has emerged as a promising cellular therapy to reconstruct the microenvironment and facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration. In this review, we summarize the role of Schwann cells and recent advances in Schwann cell therapy in peripheral nerve regeneration. We summarize current techniques used in cell therapy, including cell injection, 3D-printed scaffolds for cell delivery, cell encapsulation techniques, as well as the cell types employed in experiments, experimental models, and research findings. At the end of the paper, we summarize the challenges and advantages of various cells (including ESCs, iPSCs, and BMSCs) in clinical cell therapy. Our goal is to provide the theoretical and experimental basis for future treatments targeting peripheral nerves, highlighting the potential of cell therapy and tissue engineering as invaluable resources for promoting nerve regeneration.
Topics: Schwann Cells; Humans; Animals; Nerve Regeneration; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Peripheral Nerves
PubMed: 38729050
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116645 -
Disease Models & Mechanisms Apr 2024Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in the loss of dystrophin, a large cytosolic protein that links the cytoskeleton to...
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in the loss of dystrophin, a large cytosolic protein that links the cytoskeleton to extracellular matrix receptors in skeletal muscle. Aside from progressive muscle damage, many patients with DMD also have neurological deficits of unknown etiology. To investigate potential mechanisms for DMD neurological deficits, we assessed postnatal oligodendrogenesis and myelination in the Dmdmdx mouse model. In the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) stem cell niche, we found that oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) production was deficient, with reduced OPC densities and proliferation, despite a normal stem cell niche organization. In the Dmdmdx corpus callosum, a large white matter tract adjacent to the V-SVZ, we also observed reduced OPC proliferation and fewer oligodendrocytes. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed significantly thinner myelin, an increased number of abnormal myelin structures and delayed myelin compaction, with hypomyelination persisting into adulthood. Our findings reveal alterations in oligodendrocyte development and myelination that support the hypothesis that changes in diffusion tensor imaging seen in patients with DMD reflect developmental changes in myelin architecture.
Topics: Animals; Myelin Sheath; Oligodendroglia; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Mice, Inbred mdx; Cell Proliferation; Dystrophin; Corpus Callosum; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells; Lateral Ventricles; Disease Models, Animal; Cell Differentiation; Male
PubMed: 38721692
DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050115 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by inflammatory demyelination that disrupts neuronal transmission resulting in neurodegeneration...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by inflammatory demyelination that disrupts neuronal transmission resulting in neurodegeneration progressive disability. While current treatments focus on immunosuppression to limit inflammation and further myelin loss, no approved therapies effectively promote remyelination to mitigate the progressive disability associated with chronic demyelination. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a pro-inflammatory lipid that is upregulated in MS patient plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). LPA activates the LPA1 receptor, resulting in elevated CNS cytokine and chemokine levels, infiltration of immune cells, and microglial/astrocyte activation. This results in a neuroinflammatory response leading to demyelination and suppressed remyelination. A medicinal chemistry effort identified PIPE-791, an oral, brain-penetrant, LPA1 antagonist. PIPE-791 was characterized in vitro and in vivo and was found to be a potent, selective LPA1 antagonist with slow receptor off-rate kinetics. In vitro, PIPE-791 induced OPC differentiation and promoted remyelination following a demyelinating insult. PIPE-791 further mitigated the macrophage-mediated inhibition of OPC differentiation and inhibited microglial and fibroblast activation. In vivo, the compound readily crossed the blood-brain barrier and blocked LPA1 in the CNS after oral dosing. Direct dosing of PIPE-791 in vivo increased oligodendrocyte number, and in the mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, we observed that PIPE-791 promoted myelination, reduced neuroinflammation, and restored visual evoked potential latencies (VEP). These findings support targeting LPA1 for remyelination and encourage development of PIPE-791 for treating MS patients with advantages not seen with current immunosuppressive disease modifying therapies.
Topics: Animals; Multiple Sclerosis; Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid; Remyelination; Humans; Mice; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Oligodendroglia; Brain; Cell Differentiation; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myelin Sheath; Lysophospholipids; Blood-Brain Barrier
PubMed: 38719983
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61369-9 -
European Journal of Case Reports in... 2024Schwann cells are found in the peripheral nervous system and can sometimes appear as benign hamartoma lesions in various parts of the body. Although rare in the...
UNLABELLED
Schwann cells are found in the peripheral nervous system and can sometimes appear as benign hamartoma lesions in various parts of the body. Although rare in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, they have been observed in the colon. Recently, mucosal Schwann cell hamartomas of the GI tract have been studied, and it was discovered that they had yet to be investigated up to 2009. In this context, we present the case of a 60-year-old man who was found to have lesions in the transverse colon during a routine colonoscopy. No further investigations were conducted since these lesions have not been associated with any risk of malignancy transformation and have not been linked to any inherited syndromes.
LEARNING POINTS
Mucosal Schwann cell hamartomas are rare types of polyps that can be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract.They are benign lesions not usually associated with any inherited syndrome and they are usually found incidentally by endoscopy.These polyps are benign and might not require further follow-up once diagnosed.
PubMed: 38715874
DOI: 10.12890/2024_004461 -
International Journal of Dentistry 2024Regeneration of sensory nerves is challenging in dental pulp regeneration. Schwann cells (SCs) are essential glial cells conducive to regenerating sensory nerve, but...
Regeneration of sensory nerves is challenging in dental pulp regeneration. Schwann cells (SCs) are essential glial cells conducive to regenerating sensory nerve, but their source is scarce. The aim of the protocol was to investigate the regenerative potential of Schwann-like cells derived from dental pulp stem cells (SC-DPSCs) for sensory nerve regrowth. SC-DPSCs were generated from dental pulp stem cells using a three-step protocol. The expression of key markers, including myelin basic protein, S-100, and p75 neurotrophin receptor, was analyzed. Primary trigeminal neurons were cultured, and the expression of neurofilament 200, -tubulin III, and microtubule-associated protein 2 was assessed. Simultaneous culture experiments were conducted to evaluate trigeminal neuron growth in the presence of SC-DPSCs. In addition, mRNA sequencing was performed to identify key genes involved in the differentiation process, highlighting prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) as a potential candidate. The results demonstrated that SC-DPSCs expressed characteristic SCs markers and facilitated axonal growth in rat trigeminal nerves. Differentiated SC-DPSCs secreted elevated levels of nerve growth factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, promoting the growth of trigeminal nerve axons. These findings suggest the regenerative potential of SC-DPSCs in dentin-dental pulp complex; PTGS2 is considered a crucial gene in this differentiation process.
PubMed: 38715867
DOI: 10.1155/2024/3746794