Gliogenesis and angiogenesis: possible regenerative targets in spinal cord of a transgenic model of ALS

肌萎缩侧索硬化症(ALS)是一种以运动神经元变性为特征的成人起病的破坏性疾病。尽管神经干/祖细胞存在于成年脊髓中央管周围，但在生理条件下不会发生神经再生。以前的报道显示了ALS模型小鼠神经发生的不同结果。在这项研究中，我们研究了ALS大鼠模型中可能的再生反应。发病后，免疫组织化学结合选择性细胞标记物显示中央管周围神经前体细胞明显增多，神经胶质细胞在实质内显著增殖。与对照组相比，鞘内注射血管生成调节剂14天后，ALS大鼠脊髓内胶质细胞生成明显减少，神经母细胞数量增加，部分神经保护作用增强，因此，调控血管生成或/和胶质细胞生成可能是ALS新的再生靶点。

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset devastating disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons. Although neural stem/progenitor cells reside around the central canal of adult spinal cord, neurogenesis does not occur under physiological condition. Previous reports showed diverse results on neurogenesis in ALS model mice.In this study, we examined a possible regenerative response in an ALS rat model. After onset of the disease, multiple immunohistochemistry with selective cell markers revealed a significant increase of neural progenitor cells around the central canal with prominent proliferation of glial cells throughout parenchyma. As compared with control, intrathecal infusion of an angiogenesis-modulating agent for 14 days significantly reduced gliogenesis, increased number of neuroblastic cells, and partial neuroprotection in the spinal cord of ALS rats.Therefore, modulating angiogenesis or/and gliogenesis may be a novel regenerative target in ALS.