Nerve Growth Factors Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation Through TGF-β and BMP-9 Signaling Pathways in Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are related to fracture healing. In this paper, we study the effect of Nerve growth factors (NGF) on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and related mechanisms. The results indicated that NGF has a dose-dependent promotion effect on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, ALP activity, and protein expression of OPN, Osterix, Runx2, COL1A1. Further investigation showed that NGF enhanced the expression of TGF-β and BMP9, and increased phosphorylation of Smad and p38 MAPK. Moreover, block of BMP and TGF-β pathway reduced the promoted effect of NGF on osteogenic differentiation. The data revealed that NGF increased osteogenic differentiation through increased phosphorylation of Smad and MAPK p38 by regulating TGF-β and BMP pathway in BMSCs. Thus, NGF may be used in bone growth and fracture healing by improving osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Benefits of Gardening Activities for Cognitive Function According to Measurement of Brain Nerve Growth Factor Levels

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gardening activities in senior individuals on brain nerve growth factors related to cognitive function. Forty-one senior individuals (age 76.6 ± 6.0 years) were recruited from the local community in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea. A 20-min low-to-moderate intensity gardening activity intervention, making a vegetable garden, was performed by the subjects in a garden plot located on the Konkuk University (Seoul, South Korea) campus. The gardening involved six activities including cleaning a garden plot, digging, fertilizing, raking, planting/transplanting, and watering. To determine the effects of the gardening activities on brain nerve growth factors related to memory, blood samples were drawn twice from each subject before and after the gardening activity by professional nurses. The levels of brain nerve growth factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), were analyzed. Levels of BDNF and PDGF were significantly increased after the gardening activity. This study revealed a potential benefit of gardening activities for cognitive function in senior individuals.

Effects of Taxol on Regeneration in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Transection Model

Recent studies describe taxol as a candidate treatment for promoting central nerve regeneration. However, taxol has serious side effects including peripheral neurotoxicity, and little information is known about the effect of taxol on peripheral nerve regeneration. We investigated the effects of taxol on regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal saline (i.p.) as the control, Cremophor EL vehicle, and 2 or 6 mg/kg of taxol in the Cremophor EL solution (four times in day-2, 4, 6, and 8), respectively. We evaluated neuronal electrophysiology, animal behaviour, neuronal connectivity, macrophage infiltration, location and expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and expression levels of both nerve growth factors and immunoregulatory factors. In the high-dose taxol group (6 mg/kg), neuronal electrophysiological function was significantly impaired. Licking latencies were significantly changed while motor coordination was unaffected. Neuronal connectivity, macrophage density, and expression levels of CGRP was dramatically reduced. Expression levels of nerve growth factors and immunoregulatory factors was also reduced, while it was increased in the low-dose taxol group (2 mg/kg). These results indicate that taxol can modulate local inflammatory conditions, impair nerve regeneration, and impede recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury.