Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1): 21-29.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2021.01.003

• Neurobiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Role and mechanism of stabilizing microtubules of endothelial cells and pericytes in improving the microvasculature dysfunction after spinal cord injury

 DUAN Yang-yang  ZHANG Ya-qun  CHAI Yong  ZHANG Lu-ping  ZHAO Dong-mei  YANG Cheng*   

  1. Department of Anatomy, Binzhou Medical University of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Yantai264003,China
  • Received:2019-12-26 Revised:2020-02-19 Online:2021-02-06 Published:2021-02-06
  • Contact: YANG Cheng E-mail:yangchxn@163.com

Abstract:

Objective  To explore the role and mechanism of stabilizing microtubules of endothelial cells and pericytes for ameliorating the dysfunction of microvasculature after spinal cord injury(SCI).   Methods  The endothelial cells and pericytes from rat brain microvascular tissue (microvessel) were separated and subjected to glucose oxygen deprivation (OGD). The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 and the expression of α-tubulin was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Rats (n=36) were subjected to dorsal spinal cord transection at T9-10 vertebra. Expression of rat endothelial cell antigen-1(RECA-1)and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)was localized by immunofluorescence. The expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGFB), PDGFRβ, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and epidermal growth factor homology domains(Tie-2)were detected by Western blotting.   Results  The cell viability in OGD group, which was time-dependent, was significantly lower than that of the control group, whereas the cell viability in OGD and epothilone B(Epo B)group(OGD-Epo B group) was significantly higher than that of the OGD group. Rupture of cell microtubules was observed after OGD, and the breakage of microtubules was time-dependent. However, the microtubules in OGD-Epo B group were more stable and less destroyed than those of the OGD group. The expression levels of RECA-1 and PDGFRβ in the SCI group were significantly lower than those of the sham group, and the levels in SCI-Epo B group were significantly higher than those of the SCI group at day 2 and day 7 post injury. Moreover, the expression levels of VEGFA, VEGFR2, PDGFB, PDGFRβ, Ang-1 in SCI-Epo B group were significantly higher than the levels of the SCI group.   Conclusion  The endothelial cells and pericytes of microvessels decrease and the microcirculation is dysfunctional after SCI. This corresponds to the microtubule breakage in the cells. The microvessels and pericytes are protected by stabilization treatment of the microtubules, which promotes microcirculation reconstruction and the SCI recovery.

Key words: Microtubule, Spinal cord injury, Microcirculation regeneration, Endothelial cell, Pericyte, Immunofluorescence, Rat

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