Chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve graft combined with ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes sciatic nerve repair

Abstract

A chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve graft can reduce postoperative immune rejection, similar to an autologous nerve graft, and can guide neural regeneration. However, it remains poorly understood whether a chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve graft combined with neurotrophic factors provides a good local environment for neural regeneration. This study investigated the repair of injured rat sciatic nerve using a chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve graft combined with ciliary neurotrophic factor. An autologous nerve anastomosis group and a chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group were prepared as controls. At 8 weeks after repair, sciatic functional index, evoked potential amplitude of the soleus muscle, triceps wet weight recovery rate, total number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness were measured. For these indices, values in the three groups showed the autologous nerve anastomosis group > chemically extracted acellular nerve graft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group > chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group. These results suggest that chemically extracted acellular nerve grafts combined with ciliary neurotrophic factor can repair sciatic nerve defects, and that this repair is inferior to autologous nerve anastomosis, but superior to chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging alone.

Introduction

Peripheral nerve injury is a frequently occurring condition. There are many restrictions on autologous nerve transplantation in the repair of peripheral nerve defects. Chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve, from which Schwann cells, myelin sheath and disintegrating fragments have been removed, reduced postoperative immune rejection. Simultaneously, chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve retains neural substrates and base materials, such as the bottom layer of Schwann cells, which can provide a good scaffold in the process of nerve regeneration. Chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve, similar to autologous nerve transplantation, can guide nerve regeneration and provide a favorable local environment for neural tube recanalization. Ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes neuronal survival and prevents nerve degeneration. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of growth factors in peripheral nerve regeneration. A method was developed for sustained delivery of nerve growth factor for nerve repair with acellular nerve grafts to augment peripheral nerve regeneration. Nerve growth factor-containing polymeric microspheres were fixed with fibrin glue around chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts for prolonged, site-specific delivery of ciliary neurotrophic factor (Yu et al., 2009).

Peripheral nerves that are interrupted by trauma or surgical resection require re-approximation of their ends. When primary repair cannot be performed without undue tension, nerve grafting is required. Nerve repair with autograft is limited when there is an insufficient amount of autologous nerve available for large nerve defects. This encouraged the search for alternative means of reconstruction in extensive nerve injuries (Siemionow and Sonmez, 2007). Non-neuronal cells can exert protective effects in vitro and in vivo (Liu et al., 2014). When the trunk is lacerated, there may be a defect between the two nerve ends after the wound has been cleaned and necrotic tissue removed. Such a gap is usually bridged by an autologous nerve graft (Kvist et al., 2011). However, sometimes, there may be a shortage of graft material to bridge the defect, such as in lesions of the brachial plexus. The surgeon's reluctance to involve another extremity in the procedure, i.e. harvesting a sural nerve biopsy from the leg, necessitates alternatives to autologous nerve grafts (Hadlock et al., 2000). The treatment would in many cases be worse than the ill it was meant to cure. To overcome this problem, an acellular nerve graft is an appealing alternative (Lundborg, 1980; Liu et al., 2014), as they are thought not to induce rejection (Macmillan et al., 2009). Ciliary neurotrophic factor is a recently discovered neurotrophic factor, which inhibits apoptosis or the programmed death of nerve cells and can improve the survival rate of cultured nerve cells (Hadlock et al., 2000; He et al., 2002). Ciliary neurotrophic factor improved neurite outgrowth, neuronal migration, and growth-associated protein 43 expression inhibited by gp120. Ciliary neurotrophic factor also rescued neuronal apoptosis induced by gp120 (Liu et al., 2014). Acellular nerve grafts retain the nerve's internal structure with preserved extracellular matrix components, such as laminin (Lundborg, 1980; Caterina et al., 2006; Liu et al., 2014). Peripheral nerve fibers have been classified in relation to their conduction velocity, which, in general is proportional to size and function. However, it is not possible to make a precise estimation of function from mere size nor is it possible to designate function to individual fibers on the basis of structural features alone (Fitzgerald and Folan-Curran, 2002); however, selecting and matching a suitable combination of graft and host species may improve axonal outgrowth (Kvist et al, 2011). This study investigated the enhancement of rat sciatic nerve regeneration by ciliary neurotrophic factor, and provided evidence for clinical applications of ciliary neurotrophic factor.

Materials and Methods

Materials, animals and equipment

A total of 45 healthy, male, Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 months, weighing 200–300 g were provided by Henan Provincial Experimental Animal Center, China (animal license No. Medical animal SCXK (Yu) 2010-0002). The protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southern Medical University, China.

Preparation of allogeneic nerve

After hair removal and disinfection of the lower edge of the piriformis, rats were anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate under sterile conditions (Han et al., 2006). For graft preparation, 7 mm of bilateral sciatic nerve was collected (at the level of the lower edge of the piriformis) from 15 Sprague-Dawley rats under a dissecting microscope (ASOM-4, Photoelectric Technology Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China). The remaining 30 rats were considered as experimental groups. Nerve samples were then rinsed in distilled water and then gently rocked in 3.0% Triton X-100 solution for 12 hours at room temperature. Sodium deoxycholate solution was then added and gentle rocking continued for 24 hours at room temperature. This operation was then repeated. After extraction of the sciatic nerve, the samples were rinsed in distilled water for 30 minutes (Sondell et al., 1999).

Preparation of diluted ciliary neurotrophic factor compound

Dichloromethane and polylactic acid/glycolic acid copolymer (Baosheng Biological Company, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China) formed an oily phase after concussion miscibility. 45 μg of ciliary neurotrophic factor and 100 mg of bovine serum albumin were added to the oily phase solution, and then 10 mL PBS containing 2% polyethylene glycol was added according to the method of Zhang et al. (2008). This method results in ciliary neurotrophic factor polymeric microspheres at a final concentration of 10 mg/mL.

Preparation of nerve defects in animal models and experimental groups

Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate for 2 hours to prepare models of 10 mm unilateral sciatic nerve defects under sterile conditions. Ciliary neurotrophic factor 0.1 mL was injected around the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft with a microsyringe. The rats were divided into three groups randomly (n = 10): chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor, autologous nerve anastomosis and chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft bridging.

Morphology

We daily observed the wound healing site and animals’ motor function for 8 weeks. Observations included mental state, wound healing, muscle atrophy, presence of ulcers or complications, and vestibular activity during walking.

Hematoxylin-eosin staining

Eight weeks after surgery sciatic nerve grafts 1 cm beyond anastomotic ends were collected from each experimental group. Samples were processed in 10% formalin and processed by conventional paraffin embedding and serial sectioning. Sections were observed under a light microscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Determination of sciatic functional index

In the 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after surgery, in accordance with the method of Nakazato et al. (2007) the following parameters were measured: toe to toe distances of the 1^st to 5^th toe (toe spread, TS), from the front end of the 3^rd toe to the trail end (print length, PL), and from the 2^nd toe to 4^th toe (inter-toes distance, IT). According to TS, PL and IT values, the rat sciatic index is calculated as, SSI = −38.3 (EPL–NPL/NPL) +109.5 (ETS–NTS/NTS) +13.3 (EIT–NIT/NIT) −8.8; SSI = 0 means normal neurological function and SSI = −100 corresponds to complete loss of nerve function (N: clear footprint of both normal feet; E: clear footprint of experimental feet).

Neurophysiological test and electromyography

Eight weeks after surgery, the rats were intraperitoneally anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate. The sciatic nerve was exposed and gastrocnemius muscle surgery was performed using an SXP-1 operating microscope (Shanghai Medical Equipment Co., Shanghai, China). The electrodes were placed in the middle of the calf muscle to measure and record between the electrodes (NDI-200P EMG evoked potentiometer; Shanghai Haishen Medical Electronic Instrument Co., Shanghai, China).

Determination of wet weight recovery rate of rat triceps

Eight weeks after surgery, rats’ triceps muscles were taken; blood was absorbed, then their wet weight was recorded. Wet weight recovery rate was calculated by (triceps wet weight on the surgical side/triceps wet weight on the non-surgical side) × 100%.

Toluidine blue staining and electron microscopy

Eight weeks after the surgery, the distal anastomosis of the operated sciatic nerve was 3 mm, and nerve specimens (cut out) were also 3 mm long, and we used a specimen of the contralateral corresponding nerve as a control. After blood was washed away, samples were fixed with glutaraldehyde, embedded in epoxy resin 812, crosscut into 2-μm sections, and then processed for uranium-lead staining (Zhao et al., 2010). All samples were observed under an electron microscope (JEM-1200EX; Japanese Electronics Company, Tokyo, Japan). The Image-Pro Plus analysis system (Applied Biosystems ABI, Foster, CA, USA) was used to measure the thickness of the myelin sheath. Semi-thin slices were subjected to toluidine blue staining. The thickness of the myelin sheath and the total number of myelinated nerve fibers were measured.

Statistical analysis

SPSS 18.0 statistical software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used to process and analyze the data. The data are expressed as mean ± SD. Data comparison between multiple groups was performed using one-way analysis of variance, pairwise comparisons using the least significant difference test. Inspection standards take α = 0.05.

Results

Overall condition of rats after transplantation

Eight weeks after surgery, wounds were well healed with no infection or significant differences in appearance; ulcers had completely subsided. In the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group and the autologous nerve anastomosis group, toes could separate and there was no disability in walking. There was no significant difference in posture as compared with the left side of experimental animals. When attempting to walk, rats in the chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group would stop and curl up.

Morphology of sciatic nerve of rats undergoing repair with chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts and ciliary neurotrophic factor

Eight weeks after surgery, uniformly myelinated nerve fibers were visible in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group and the autologous nerve anastomosis group. The density of myelinated nerve fibers in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group was higher than that of the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group, which indicated that ciliary neurotrophic factor contributes to peripheral nerve defect repair (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Morphology of injured sciatic nerve in rats after repair with CEANA and CNTF (hematoxylin-eosin staining, × 400).

(A1, A2) CEANA + CNTF group; (B1, B2) chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group; (C1, C2) autologous nerve anastomosis group. My-elinated nerve fibers were uniform in the CEANA + CNTF group and the autologous nerve anastomosis group. The density of myelinated nerve fibers in the CEANA + CNTF group was lower than that in the autologous nerve anastomosis group, but higher than that in the chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group. CEANA: Chemically extracted acellular nerve graft; CNTF: ciliary neurotrophic factor.

Effects of chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts combined with ciliary neurotrophic factor on sciatic nerve function in rats

In the 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after surgery, the sciatic functional index increased with time in the three groups: autologous nerve anastomosis group > chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group > chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group (P < 0.05). These data indicated that ciliary neurotrophic factor contributes to peripheral nerve defect repair (Table 1).

Table 1.

Effects of CEANA combined with CNTF on sciatic functional index in rats

Effects of chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts combined with ciliary neurotrophic factor on soleus muscle function in rats

Eight weeks after surgery, nerve conduction velocity and peak-amplitude in the rat soleus muscle in the three groups showed autologous nerve anastomosis group > chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group > chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group (P < 0.05). For latency: autologous nerve anastomosis group > chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group > chemical acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group (P < 0.05). These data indicate that the recovery was better in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group than in the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group, indicating a promoting effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor on peripheral nerve defect repair (Table 2).

Table 2.

Effects of CEANA combined with CNTF on soleus muscle function in rats with sciatic nerve injury

Effects of chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts + ciliary neurotrophic factor on triceps wet weight recovery rate, total number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness in rats with sciatic nerve injury

Eight weeks after surgery, values for triceps wet weight recovery rate, total number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness in the three groups showed that autologous nerve anastomosis group > chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group > chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group (P < 0.05; Figure 2, Table 3).

Figure 2.

Morphology of triceps with sciatic nerve injury at 8 weeks after repair with CEANA and CNTF.

Upper panel: Operated triceps; lower panel: healthy triceps. (A) The chemical acellular allogeneic nerve anastomosis group; (B) CEANA + CNTF group; (C) autologous nerve anastomosis group. CEANA: Chem-ically extracted acellular nerve graft; CNTF: ciliary neurotrophic factor.

Table 3.

Effects of CEANA combined with CNTF on triceps wet weight recovery rate (%), total number of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness (μm) in rats with sciatic nerve injury

Discussion

In trauma centers, 5% of patients suffer from peripheral nerve injury. Peripheral nerve injury is frequently located in the upper extremities and is associated with a sub-optimal recovery of arm and hand function, loss of capacity to move fingers and other joints, and sometimes a loss of sensation in the entire limb (Svennigsen and Dahlin, 2013). The injuries often have severe consequences for the afflicted individuals, including loss of touch perception, impaired stereognosis, disturbed temperature perception, cold sensitivity, and although fortunately less frequently seen, pain, such as complex regional pain syndromes (Widerberg et al., 1997; Bruyns et al., 2003; Rosen et al., 2012). Peripheral nerve injury leads to both individual suffering and altered/degraded quality of life for the patient (Widerberg et al., 1997; Bruyns et al., 2003; Rosberg et al., 2005). During peripheral nerve regeneration, the microenvironment has a very important role and involves neurotrophins (Hobson, 2000; Hudson 2004). A large number of experimental studies have found that these soluble protein factors (Seckel, 1990) promote nerve regeneration by synthesizing certain enzymes and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, thus resetting survival and morphology of neuronal cells. The drug microsphere technique is one method for the delivery of neurotrophic factors. This technology can maintain a sustained release of growth factors in the defective nerve area to improve the promoting effect of growth factors on peripheral nerve regeneration (Ide, 1993; Sun et al., 2013; Liu, 2014). Expression of selected neurotrophic factors is initiated to prepare the tissue for regeneration (Xu et al., 2013), and it has been reported that treatment with ciliary neurotrophic factor microspheres can produce a sustained effect for 10 weeks or more. Three months after its application for the repair of defective sciatic nerve, it was found that ciliary neurotrophic factor microspheres significantly increased the diameter and myelin thickness of regenerating nerve fibers (Mligiliche et al., 2002; Yetiser and Kahraman, 2008; Tormo et al., 2012). Microsphere technology with ciliary neurotrophic factor or other growth factors can promote peripheral nerve regeneration (Ard et al., 1987), and this could be a cheap and easy clinical treatment. The age of animals was not considered in this study; however, Cherqui et al. (2009) note that performance is better in pediatric patients; while Onne (1962) stated that there is good functional recovery up to the age of 50. However, there is some degree of disagreement concerning the optimal timing for suturing transected nerves (Mafi et al., 2012).

We considered the effect of the microenvironment because the outcome of peripheral nerve regeneration depends on the type of environment offered to the nerve fibers distal to the lesion. The distal nerve stump is an excellent growth substrate, superior to muscle or fat tissue (Weis and Schroder, 1989) and provides structural and trophic/tropic support during elongation of the axonal sprouts. The structural support has been ascribed to the endoneurial tubes (Young, 1942) in which laminin, the structural protein of the basal lamina, exerts distinct molecular interactions with the outgrowing axonal sprouts (Sanes and Tomaselli et al., 1986; Angelov et al., 1996; Fugleholm, 1998; Dohm et al., 2000).

Ducker (1969) recommended nerve repair within the first 10 days of injury, whereas Kleinert and Griffin (1973) and Holmes and Young (1942) believed that the nerve repair should be at the time of maximal axoplasmic synthesis. Cabaud et al. (1982) supported an early treatment to minimize scarring in the endoneurial space and to benefit from early axonal sprouting. Thus, we considered recording our observations from the first week postsurgery and our results were in agreement with the latter findings.

Seddon (1943) however, stated that fibrosis at 3 weeks offers a mechanical advantage for nerve suturing. Lenz-Scharf et al. (2004) argued that nerve regeneration was best within 6 weeks at the proximal end of the lesion as Wallerian degeneration was complete. Our studies also support these findings with good wound healing at 8 weeks. We observed no nerve regeneration difference between treatment groups after 10 days, in agreement with Sondell et al., (1999).

Ciliary neurotrophic factor is a cytoplasmic protein that has certain effects in the spinal cord and dorsal root sensory system and sympathetic neurons. Ciliary neurotrophic factor has noticeable effect on cell body development of both sensory and motor neurons and has considerable effect on the survival of sensory and motor neurons. Ciliary neurotrophic factor can promote the regeneration and the functional reconstruction of the peripheral nerve injury (Bechstein et al., 2012). In nerve injury, acid cholesterol ester hydrolase activity decreases significantly, while the activity of acid phosphatase increases significantly, and ciliary neurotrophic factor is able to reduce the magnitude of this exogenous increase or decrease by maintaining the biological activity of acid phosphatase and acid cholesterol ester hydrolase, thus reducing neuronal damage, and protecting the spinal cord neurons (He et al., 2002; Jason et al., 2013; Kang et al., 2013; Okano-Uchida et al., 2013). In ultra-thin sections examined by X-ray electron microscopy, we found that the anastomotic diameter and the number of nerve fibers were higher in the sciatic nerve end in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group compared with the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group. The microscopic structure of myelin sheath in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group was clearer than that in the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group, and these differences were statistically significant.

Although microsurgical techniques have been refined, functional recovery is usually unsatisfactory. It is conceivable that the approach to repair peripheral nerve injuries must be altered to improve functional recovery. An increased understanding of how neurons and supportive cells respond to trauma is needed as well as better knowledge regarding mechanisms regulating axonal outgrowth. One way to improve the results after nerve injury could be to use preconditioned nerves in nerve grafting situations. However, based on our present knowledge of graft repair, it seems that the surgical approaches must be supplemented with pharmacological treatment so as to optimize nerve regeneration (Annika, 2002).

Clinically useful injury grading systems have been developed that allow correlation of the microscopic changes occurring after nerve injury and patient symptomatology (Donoff, 1995). Perhaps the most widely accepted are those developed by Seddon (1943). Seddon divided nerve injuries by severity into three broad categories: neurapraxia, axonotmesis and neurotmesis. Neurapraxia, the mildest injury type, does not involve permanent loss of nerve and causes transient functional loss. This transience is thought to be due to a local ion-induced conduction block at the injury site, although subtle alterations in myelin structure have also been found. Axonotmesis occurs when there is complete interruption of the nerve axon and surrounding myelin, while the surrounding mesenchymal structures, including the perineurium and epineurium, are preserved. Axon and myelin degenerations occur distal to the point of injury, causing complete denervation. The prospect of recovery is excellent in such injuries because of the remaining uninjured mesenchymal latticework that provides a path for subsequent sprouting axons to reinnervate their target organ. Neurotmesis involves disconnection of a nerve. Functional loss is complete and recovery without surgical intervention does not usually occur because of scar formation and the loss of the mesenchymal guide that properly directs axonal regrowth (Burnett and Zager, 2004).

In this study, we applied a complete segmental nerve section (neurotmesis) and used drug microsphere technology in the repair of a rat sciatic nerve defect. Ciliary neurotrophic factor experiments showed that ciliary neurotrophic factor has a positive effect and improves triceps wet weight recovery rate; while nerve regeneration effects of diluted preparations in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group were superior to the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group. Total myelinated nerve fibers observed under electron microscopy after toluidine blue staining had myelin sheath thickness that was higher in the chemically extracted acellular nerve allograft + ciliary neurotrophic factor group compared with that in the chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve bridging group. These results strongly suggest that exogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor improves the acellular nerve graft repair and the function of nerve conduction can be recovered, which is a good substitute of nerve grafts (Zhang et al., 2010). The present preliminary study has demonstrated that good nerve regeneration comparable with that of autografts is produced in the acellular allograft. We believe we will be able to further improve nerve regeneration with allografts using freeze-treated grafts with other neurotrophic factors without any immunosuppression (Ide et al., 1998) because immunosuppression was not performed in this study.

The regeneration process in peripheral nerves can be manipulated by different procedures using ciliary neurotrophic factor. However, we still need to understand Schwann cell proliferation and signal transduction pathways present in nerve cells to master the regeneration process because brain elasticity resets and interprets afferent signaling pathways of peripheral organs to avoid misdirection of nerve outgrowth after repair. However, from our results, we can conclude that ciliary neurotrophic factor favors nerve regeneration involving the Schwann cell surface or the extracellular matrix produced and assembled by Schwann cells. ciliary neurotrophic factor also promotes neurite outgrowth and guides outgrowth from several types of peripheral and central nervous system neurons. Despite our findings, we suggest that further research in this field is needed to identify all the neural components involved and to determine their specific functions.