Neurotrophic Factors in Combination: A Possible new Therapeutic Strategy to Influence Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury and Repair Mechanisms

• Published in: Current pharmaceutical design Vol. 13; no. 18; pp. 1841 - 1874
• Main Author: Sharma, Hari Shanker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates Bentham Science Publishers Ltd 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Survival - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Endothelial Cells/drug effects/pathology; Humans; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Nerve Growth Factors - pharmacology; Nerve Growth Factors - therapeutic use; Nerve Growth Factors/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Nerve Regeneration - drug effects; Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases - physiopathology; Neurodegenerative Diseases/drug therapy/physiopathology; Neuroglia - drug effects; Neuroglia - pathology; Neuroglia/drug effects/pathology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - pathology; Neurons/drug effects/pathology; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use; Psychomotor Performance - drug effects; Rats; Spinal Cord Injuries - drug therapy; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy/pathology/physiopathology; Disease Models; Animal; Combination; Drug Therapy
• ISSN: 1381-6128; 1873-4286; 1873-4286
• DOI: 10.2174/138161207780858410

Several neurotrophic factors are known to induce neuroprotection in traumatic injuries to the central nervous system (CNS). However, many neurotrophins are unable to attenuate cell death following CNS injuries. New data generated in our laboratory show that a suitable combination of neurotrophic factors may enhance the neuroprotective efficacy of neurotrophins on cell and tissue injury and improve sensory motor functions. This novel aspect of neurotrophins treatment in combination in spinal cord injury (SCI) induced behavioral dysfunctions and spinal cord pathology is examined in a rat model. Our investigations suggest that a suitable combination of neurotrophins will attenuate both neural and non-neural (glial cells and endothelial cells) damage in SCI leading to enhanced neuroprotection. The possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of synergistic effects of some neurotrophins in combination are still speculative and require further investigation.