A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Tropomyosin receptor-kinase B (TrkB) and TrkC neurotrophin receptors promote neuronal growth and differentiation during the development and maintenance of structural integrity and plasticity in adult animals. Here, we test the hypotheses that activation of TrkB and TrkC will mitigate neuronal damage...

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Main Authors: Jian Shi, Tao Yang, Yibing Li, Lily Zhong, Frank M. Longo, Stephen M. Massa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2025-01-01
Series:Neurotrauma Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neur.2024.0117
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author Jian Shi
Tao Yang
Yibing Li
Lily Zhong
Frank M. Longo
Stephen M. Massa
author_facet Jian Shi
Tao Yang
Yibing Li
Lily Zhong
Frank M. Longo
Stephen M. Massa
author_sort Jian Shi
collection DOAJ
description Tropomyosin receptor-kinase B (TrkB) and TrkC neurotrophin receptors promote neuronal growth and differentiation during the development and maintenance of structural integrity and plasticity in adult animals. Here, we test the hypotheses that activation of TrkB and TrkC will mitigate neuronal damage and loss, and behavioral deficits induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). LM22B-10 (C10), a blood–brain barrier permeant small-molecule TrkB/TrkC co-activator, significantly increased proliferation, survival, and enhanced differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells in vitro. Following controlled cortical impact injury in rats, LM22B-10 administration increased the proliferation of doublecortin-expressing (DCX) cells in the hippocampus and significantly reduced cell death in the injured cortex. Interestingly, in studies of behavior, LM22B-10 promoted anxiety-like behavior and diminished spatial memory performance in the Barnes maze in sham-TBI animals but improved both of these behaviors in injured rats, a bimodal response suggesting the possibility that excess neurotrophic activity may be detrimental in uninjured animals but compensatory after injury. Thus, TrkB/TrkC agents may constitute a new therapeutic avenue for TBI but will require further study to determine safe and effective applications.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2689-288X
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Mary Ann Liebert
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series Neurotrauma Reports
spelling doaj-art-48473a6fb58c4526a2a7e07bf2a25d8c2025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMary Ann LiebertNeurotrauma Reports2689-288X2025-01-016119520910.1089/neur.2024.0117A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain InjuryJian Shi0Tao Yang1Yibing Li2Lily Zhong3Frank M. Longo4Stephen M. Massa5Department of Neurology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System and University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.Department of Neurology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System and University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.Department of Neurology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System and University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.Department of Neurology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System and University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.Tropomyosin receptor-kinase B (TrkB) and TrkC neurotrophin receptors promote neuronal growth and differentiation during the development and maintenance of structural integrity and plasticity in adult animals. Here, we test the hypotheses that activation of TrkB and TrkC will mitigate neuronal damage and loss, and behavioral deficits induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). LM22B-10 (C10), a blood–brain barrier permeant small-molecule TrkB/TrkC co-activator, significantly increased proliferation, survival, and enhanced differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells in vitro. Following controlled cortical impact injury in rats, LM22B-10 administration increased the proliferation of doublecortin-expressing (DCX) cells in the hippocampus and significantly reduced cell death in the injured cortex. Interestingly, in studies of behavior, LM22B-10 promoted anxiety-like behavior and diminished spatial memory performance in the Barnes maze in sham-TBI animals but improved both of these behaviors in injured rats, a bimodal response suggesting the possibility that excess neurotrophic activity may be detrimental in uninjured animals but compensatory after injury. Thus, TrkB/TrkC agents may constitute a new therapeutic avenue for TBI but will require further study to determine safe and effective applications.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neur.2024.0117cell deathcognitive functionLM22B-10neurogenesistraumatic brain injury
spellingShingle Jian Shi
Tao Yang
Yibing Li
Lily Zhong
Frank M. Longo
Stephen M. Massa
A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Neurotrauma Reports
cell death
cognitive function
LM22B-10
neurogenesis
traumatic brain injury
title A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
title_full A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
title_fullStr A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
title_full_unstemmed A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
title_short A Small-Molecule TrkB/TrkC Ligand Promotes Neurogenesis and Behavioral Recovery Following Traumatic Brain Injury
title_sort small molecule trkb trkc ligand promotes neurogenesis and behavioral recovery following traumatic brain injury
topic cell death
cognitive function
LM22B-10
neurogenesis
traumatic brain injury
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neur.2024.0117
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