Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (33): 5327-5333.doi: 10.12307/2023.724

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Molecular mechanism of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves regulating astrocytes to repair spinal cord injury

Ma Ruixin1, Liu Pan2, Zhang Qiong3, Zeng Gaofeng3, Zong Shaohui1, 2   

  1. 1Collaborative Innovation Center of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Department of Spinal Osteopathy, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 3School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2022-09-08 Accepted:2022-11-18 Online:2023-11-28 Published:2023-03-30
  • Contact: Zong Shaohui, Professor, Chief physician, Collaborative Innovation Center of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; Department of Spinal Osteopathy, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Zeng Gaofeng, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Ma Ruixin, Master candidate, Collaborative Innovation Center of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed by the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81860391 (to ZGF); The “139” Plan for Training High-Level Backbone Medical Talents in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, No. [2020]15 (to ZSH); Guangxi Ten Hundred Thousand Talents Project, No. GRSF[2019]32 (to ZGF)

PDF

43

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Astrocytes play an important role in neuronal repair after spinal cord injury. Studies have shown that total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves can promote motor function recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. Whether total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves can affect astrocytes to promote neuronal repair remains unclear.  
OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves regulating astrocytes to repair spinal cord injury.
METHODS: Transwell was used to construct the co-culture model of injured spinal cord neurons and spinal cord astrocytes. The control group consisted of normal spinal astrocytes and normal spinal neurons. The injured group consisted of normal astrocytes and injured spinal neurons. The drug group consisted of 125 μg/mL total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves-intervened normal spinal astrocytes and injured spinal neurons. The generation of reactive oxygen species in spinal cord neurons was detected by the fluorescence probe DCFH-DA. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor and transcription factor-4. The expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, Wnt/β-catenin pathway key proteins GSK-3β, phsopho-GSK-3β (ser9), β-catenin and transcription factor-4 were detected by western blot assay. The expression of key protein β-catenin of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was observed by immunofluorescence method.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The production of reactive oxygen species in the injury group was much higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). The production of reactive oxygen species in the drug group was lower than that in the injury group (P < 0.01) and higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). (2) The gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in the drug group was higher than that in the control group and injury group (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with the control group and the injury group, the protein expression of phsopho-GSK-3β(ser9) increased (P < 0.001); β-catenin protein expression increased (P < 0.001); the protein and gene expression of transcription factor 4 was increased (P < 0.01) in the drug group. (4) The results showed that the total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves could alleviate the oxidative damage of spinal cord neurons, activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway of astrocytes, combine with transcription factor 4 to start transcription, promote its secretion of neurotrophic factors, and realize the repair of spinal cord neurons.

Key words: total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves, astrocyte, spinal cord injury, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor

CLC Number: