Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Microglial cells play an important role in neuroinflammation and secondary damages after spinal cord injury (SCI). Progressive microglia/macrophage inflammation along the entire spinal axis follows SCI, and various factors may determine the microglial activation profile. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is kno...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/4/211 |
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| author | Diana Schaufler Maria Eleni Manthou Paschalis Theotokis Svenja Rink-Notzon Doychin N. Angelov |
| author_facet | Diana Schaufler Maria Eleni Manthou Paschalis Theotokis Svenja Rink-Notzon Doychin N. Angelov |
| author_sort | Diana Schaufler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microglial cells play an important role in neuroinflammation and secondary damages after spinal cord injury (SCI). Progressive microglia/macrophage inflammation along the entire spinal axis follows SCI, and various factors may determine the microglial activation profile. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is known to control the survival of neurons, the function of synapses, and the release of neurotransmitters, while also stimulating axon plasticity and growth. We examined the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) and forms of assisted locomotor therapy, such as passive flexion–extension (PFE) therapy, at the neuronal level after SCI, with a focus on changes in NT-3 expression and on microglia/macrophage reaction, as they play a major role in the reconstitution of CNS integrity after injury and they may critically account for the observed structural and functional benefits of physical therapy. More specifically, the WBV therapy resulted in the best overall functional recovery when initiated at day 14, while inducing a decrease in Iba1 and the highest increase in NT-3. Therefore, the WBV therapy at the 14th day appeared to be superior to the PFE therapy in terms of recovery. Functional deficits and subsequent rehabilitation depend heavily upon the inflammatory processes occurring caudally to the injury site; thus, we propose that increased expression of NT-3, especially in the dorsal horn, could potentially be the mediator of this favorable outcome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:08:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c052f51af6e4678b4b995fe6a215592 |
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| issn | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:08:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c052f51af6e4678b4b995fe6a2155922023-11-17T18:47:50ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452023-04-014543238325410.3390/cimb45040211Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in RatsDiana Schaufler0Maria Eleni Manthou1Paschalis Theotokis2Svenja Rink-Notzon3Doychin N. Angelov4Department I of Internal Medicine, Lung Cancer Group Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyAnatomical Institute II, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dental and Oral Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyAnatomical Institute II, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyMicroglial cells play an important role in neuroinflammation and secondary damages after spinal cord injury (SCI). Progressive microglia/macrophage inflammation along the entire spinal axis follows SCI, and various factors may determine the microglial activation profile. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is known to control the survival of neurons, the function of synapses, and the release of neurotransmitters, while also stimulating axon plasticity and growth. We examined the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) and forms of assisted locomotor therapy, such as passive flexion–extension (PFE) therapy, at the neuronal level after SCI, with a focus on changes in NT-3 expression and on microglia/macrophage reaction, as they play a major role in the reconstitution of CNS integrity after injury and they may critically account for the observed structural and functional benefits of physical therapy. More specifically, the WBV therapy resulted in the best overall functional recovery when initiated at day 14, while inducing a decrease in Iba1 and the highest increase in NT-3. Therefore, the WBV therapy at the 14th day appeared to be superior to the PFE therapy in terms of recovery. Functional deficits and subsequent rehabilitation depend heavily upon the inflammatory processes occurring caudally to the injury site; thus, we propose that increased expression of NT-3, especially in the dorsal horn, could potentially be the mediator of this favorable outcome.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/4/211microgliaIba1neurotrophin-3spinal cord injuryvibration therapyfunctional recovery |
| spellingShingle | Diana Schaufler Maria Eleni Manthou Paschalis Theotokis Svenja Rink-Notzon Doychin N. Angelov Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats Current Issues in Molecular Biology microglia Iba1 neurotrophin-3 spinal cord injury vibration therapy functional recovery |
| title | Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats |
| title_full | Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats |
| title_short | Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and Manually Assisted Locomotor Therapy on Neurotrophin-3 Expression and Microglia/Macrophage Mobilization Following Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats |
| title_sort | effects of whole body vibration and manually assisted locomotor therapy on neurotrophin 3 expression and microglia macrophage mobilization following thoracic spinal cord injury in rats |
| topic | microglia Iba1 neurotrophin-3 spinal cord injury vibration therapy functional recovery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/45/4/211 |
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