Leukaemia inhibitory factor rescues motoneurones from axotomy-induced cell death.
The death of spinal motoneurones after axotomy provides a useful model for studying novel factors which prevent motoneurone loss in vivo. Peripheral nerves of newborn rats were unilaterally transected and treated with either a vehicle solution or leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Compared with the vehicle controls, treatment with a gelfoam containing LIF significantly reduced motoneurone loss: from 38% to 22% after 3 days and from 55% to 38% after 7 days. The loss of motoneurones was further reduced by placing the LIF-containing gelfoam inside a silicone chamber: from 39% to 15% after 7 days, which represented a 62% rescue. Thus, LIF is a potential therapeutic agent for preventing the loss of injured or diseased motoneurones.
Cheema
S S
SS
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Richards
L J
LJ
Murphy
M
M
Bartlett
P F
PF
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines