Treatment with growth factor prosaposin in a mammalian model of spina bifida

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Spina bifida aperta (SBA), a developmental disorder of the spinal cord, causes high pediatric mortality and is the leading cause of lifelong neurological complications including paralysis, orthopedic abnormalities, problems with bladder and bowel control, and painful complications. Current therapeutics for SBA have various limitations, including incomplete preservation of spinal tissue and the inability to rescue sensorimotor functions. We found that intra-amniotic delivery of prosaposin-derived 18 mer-peptide (PS18), a potential neurotrophic factor, to the chick embryo with SBA enhances the regeneration process and protects spinal tissue in developing spinal cord. Furthermore, treatment with PS18 dramatically improved the walking and bowel movement ability and reduce and painful complications of hatched chicks in postnatal life. The results are published as first author in a highly reputed scientific journal (Khan et al., iScience 2023; IF: 6.107).In order to aim for clinical application of PS18, verification using not only the chicken model but also the mammalian SBA model is necessary. In this regard, we are trying to develop a mice model of SBA by inducing Zika virus which causes neural tube malformations and other birth defects. Zika virus solution (1x10^4 PFU in 200μL PBS) was administered subcutaneously to STAT1 KO mice on the 6th day of pregnancy to induce SBA and/or other defects in the fetus. Once a mice model with SBA or other neurological birth defects is developed, we will evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of PS18 with the aim of writing papers.