Oxidative stress disrupts the cytoskeleton of spinal motor neurons

Brain and Behavior, 2023 · DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2870 · Published: January 1, 2023

Simple Explanation

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common and devastating central nervous disease. Treatment measures based on oxidative stress of spinal motor neurons during SCI are expected to help restore biological functions of neurons under injury conditions. However, to date, there are no systematic reports regarding oxidative stress on spinal motor neuron injury. The study exposed VSC4.1 motor neurons to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and evaluated the effects on cell viability, morphology, cycling, and apoptosis, with an emphasis on the changes to the cytoskeleton and the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) on these changes. Then, the study investigated the effects of NAC on these cytoskeletal changes in vitro and in vivo. The study found that H2O2 caused severe damage to the normal cytoskeleton, leading to a reduction in neurite length and number, rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, and disorder of the microtubules and neurofilaments in VSC4.1. NAC attenuated the oxidative damage of spinal motor neurons in vitro and in vivo, promoting the recovery of hindlimb motor ability in mice with SCI at the early stage of injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

C57BL/6 female mice (12 weeks, 18−22 g) and VSC4.1 motor neurons

Evidence Level

Level: Not specified, Study type: In vitro and in vivo study

Key Findings

1
H2O2 caused severe damage to the normal cytoskeleton, leading to a reduction in neurite length and number, rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, and disorder of the microtubules and neurofilaments in VSC4.1.
2
NAC attenuated the oxidative damage of spinal motor neurons in vitro and in vivo, promoting the recovery of hindlimb motor ability in mice with SCI at the early stage of injury.
3
Oxidative stress plays an important role in the cytoskeleton destruction of spinal motor neurons in SCI, and treatment of SCI on this basis is a promising strategy.

Research Summary

This study shows that oxidative stress plays an important role in the cytoskeleton destruction of spinal motor neurons in SCI, and treatment of SCI on this basis is a promising strategy. These findings will help to elucidate the role of oxidative stress in spinal motor neuron injury in SCI and provide references for further research into the study of the pathology and underlying mechanism of SCI. NAC also enhanced the survival of spinal motor neurons and expression levels of MAP-2, promoting locomotor recovery after SCI in mice.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Strategy

Targeting oxidative stress in SCI treatment is a promising strategy.

Cytoskeleton Repair

Oxidative stress-induced cytoskeleton repair has potential to promote functional recovery after central nervous system injury.

Further Research

Further studies are needed to explore the effect and mechanism of oxidative stress on spinal motor neuron injury after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The study acknowledges that it remains unclear whether the observed cytoskeletal changes are merely a consequence of injury or a cause of subsequent injuries.
2
The interactions between cytoskeletal components in spinal motor neurons' role in SCI is not fully explored.
3
The specific components of the cytoskeleton that should be targeted for therapeutic intervention require further study.

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