Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury

Abstract Peripheral Nerve Injuries (PNI) affect more than 20 million Americans and severely impact quality of life by causing long-term disability. PNI is characterized by nerve degeneration distal to the site of nerve injury resulting in long periods of skeletal muscle denervation. During this peri...

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Main Authors: Pihu Mehrotra, James Jablonski, John Toftegaard, Yali Zhang, Shahryar Shahini, Jianmin Wang, Carey W. Hung, Reilly Ellis, Gabriella Kayal, Nika Rajabian, Song Liu, Kelly C. S. Roballo, Susan B. Udin, Stelios T. Andreadis, Kirkwood E. Personius
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53276-4
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author Pihu Mehrotra
James Jablonski
John Toftegaard
Yali Zhang
Shahryar Shahini
Jianmin Wang
Carey W. Hung
Reilly Ellis
Gabriella Kayal
Nika Rajabian
Song Liu
Kelly C. S. Roballo
Susan B. Udin
Stelios T. Andreadis
Kirkwood E. Personius
author_facet Pihu Mehrotra
James Jablonski
John Toftegaard
Yali Zhang
Shahryar Shahini
Jianmin Wang
Carey W. Hung
Reilly Ellis
Gabriella Kayal
Nika Rajabian
Song Liu
Kelly C. S. Roballo
Susan B. Udin
Stelios T. Andreadis
Kirkwood E. Personius
author_sort Pihu Mehrotra
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Peripheral Nerve Injuries (PNI) affect more than 20 million Americans and severely impact quality of life by causing long-term disability. PNI is characterized by nerve degeneration distal to the site of nerve injury resulting in long periods of skeletal muscle denervation. During this period, muscle fibers atrophy and frequently become incapable of “accepting” innervation because of the slow speed of axon regeneration post injury. We hypothesize that reprogramming the skeletal muscle to an embryonic-like state may preserve its reinnervation capability following PNI. To this end, we generate a mouse model in which NANOG, a pluripotency-associated transcription factor is expressed locally upon delivery of doxycycline (Dox) in a polymeric vehicle. NANOG expression in the muscle upregulates the percentage of Pax7+ nuclei and expression of eMYHC along with other genes that are involved in muscle development. In a sciatic nerve transection model, NANOG expression leads to upregulation of key genes associated with myogenesis, neurogenesis and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation. Further, NANOG mice demonstrate extensive overlap between synaptic vesicles and NMJ acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) indicating restored innervation. Indeed, NANOG mice show greater improvement in motor function as compared to wild-type (WT) animals, as evidenced by improved toe-spread reflex, EMG responses and isometric force production. In conclusion, we demonstrate that reprogramming muscle can be an effective strategy to improve reinnervation and functional outcomes after PNI.
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spelling doaj-art-b6d34f0cfb5e4f448addffc2432a02362025-08-20T02:11:18ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-10-0115111910.1038/s41467-024-53276-4Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injuryPihu Mehrotra0James Jablonski1John Toftegaard2Yali Zhang3Shahryar Shahini4Jianmin Wang5Carey W. Hung6Reilly Ellis7Gabriella Kayal8Nika Rajabian9Song Liu10Kelly C. S. Roballo11Susan B. Udin12Stelios T. Andreadis13Kirkwood E. Personius14Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloDepartment of Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at BuffaloDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, NYDepartment of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloDepartment of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBiomedical Affairs and Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic MedicineBiomedical Affairs and Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic MedicineBiomedical Affairs and Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic MedicineDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloDepartment of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBiomedical Affairs and Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic MedicineDepartment of Physiology and Biophysics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at BuffaloDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloDepartment of Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at BuffaloAbstract Peripheral Nerve Injuries (PNI) affect more than 20 million Americans and severely impact quality of life by causing long-term disability. PNI is characterized by nerve degeneration distal to the site of nerve injury resulting in long periods of skeletal muscle denervation. During this period, muscle fibers atrophy and frequently become incapable of “accepting” innervation because of the slow speed of axon regeneration post injury. We hypothesize that reprogramming the skeletal muscle to an embryonic-like state may preserve its reinnervation capability following PNI. To this end, we generate a mouse model in which NANOG, a pluripotency-associated transcription factor is expressed locally upon delivery of doxycycline (Dox) in a polymeric vehicle. NANOG expression in the muscle upregulates the percentage of Pax7+ nuclei and expression of eMYHC along with other genes that are involved in muscle development. In a sciatic nerve transection model, NANOG expression leads to upregulation of key genes associated with myogenesis, neurogenesis and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation. Further, NANOG mice demonstrate extensive overlap between synaptic vesicles and NMJ acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) indicating restored innervation. Indeed, NANOG mice show greater improvement in motor function as compared to wild-type (WT) animals, as evidenced by improved toe-spread reflex, EMG responses and isometric force production. In conclusion, we demonstrate that reprogramming muscle can be an effective strategy to improve reinnervation and functional outcomes after PNI.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53276-4
spellingShingle Pihu Mehrotra
James Jablonski
John Toftegaard
Yali Zhang
Shahryar Shahini
Jianmin Wang
Carey W. Hung
Reilly Ellis
Gabriella Kayal
Nika Rajabian
Song Liu
Kelly C. S. Roballo
Susan B. Udin
Stelios T. Andreadis
Kirkwood E. Personius
Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
Nature Communications
title Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
title_full Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
title_fullStr Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
title_full_unstemmed Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
title_short Skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
title_sort skeletal muscle reprogramming enhances reinnervation after peripheral nerve injury
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53276-4
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