Parasympathetic Eﬀect Induces Cell Cycle Activation in Upper Limbs of Paraplegic Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235982 · Published: November 27, 2019

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how spinal cord injury (SCI) affects gene expression related to cell cycle activation, comparing the upper and lower limbs of SCI patients. The research team analyzed fibroblasts from SCI patients and healthy individuals to understand these differences. Fibroblasts from upper limbs of SCI patients showed increased cell proliferation compared to lower limbs and healthy subjects. This suggests a connection between SCI, limb location, and cell growth. Treating fibroblasts with drugs that affect the parasympathetic nervous system (tiotropium or acetylcholine) modulated the expression of cell-cycle-related genes. This indicates the parasympathetic system's role in cell proliferation after SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

3 paraplegic patients with SCI and 3 healthy subjects

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Cell proliferation was significantly increased in the upper limbs of SCI patients compared to the lower limbs and healthy subjects.
2
Expression of cell-cycle-related genes (CCNB1, CCNB2, PLK1, BUB1, and CDC20) was significantly higher in the upper limbs of SCI patients.
3
Modulating the parasympathetic nervous system with tiotropium and acetylcholine affected the expression of cell-cycle-related genes and cell proliferation in SCI patients.

Research Summary

The study aimed to investigate gene expression changes related to cell cycle activation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to further evaluate the diﬀerence between the upper and lower limbs of SCI patients. Cell proliferation was signiﬁcantly increased in the upper limbs of SCI patients compared with the lower limbs of SCI patients and healthy subjects. This study provided the insight that cell proliferation and cell cycle activation were observed to be signiﬁcantly increased in the upper limbs of SCI patients via the parasympathetic eﬀect.

Practical Implications

Cell Therapy Strategies

Findings can be applied in cell therapy strategies regarding the inhibition of cell cycle, antiproliferation properties, and the neuroprotective effect in SCI patients.

Autonomic Nervous System Understanding

Provides a better understanding of the autonomic nervous system's role in cell proliferation and cycle activation following SCI.

Potential Therapeutic Targets

Identifies potential therapeutic targets for managing cell proliferation and improving outcomes in SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size (three SCI individuals and three healthy volunteers).
2
Uneven age distribution among healthy subjects.
3
Lack of direct comparison between upper- and lower-limb-derived cells of healthy and SCI patients from the same region.

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