title: Is there a role for neurotrophic factors and their receptors in augmenting the neuroprotective effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment of sciatic nerve crush injury?
abstract: This study analyzed and compared the effects of EGCG treatment on the expression of NTFs and NTF receptors expression in the sciatic nerve and the L3-L6 spinal cord segments at the early phase of regeneration following sciatic nerve crush injury. Analysis of BDNF, GDNF and NT3 neurotropic factors and Trk-B, Trk-C and NGFR-p75 receptors in neurons in the spinal cord of CRUSH and CRUSH + EGGC rats showed significant (p < 0.0001) decrease compared to NAÏVE and SHAM at day 1, 3, 7 and 14 after nerve injury. EGCG treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) increased the BDNF, GDN, NT3, Trk-B, Trk-C and NGFR-p75 immunostaining in the L3-L6 spinal cord compared to CRUSH animals. Also, EGCG treatment significantly increased the Trk-B protein concentration and Trk-B, NT3 and Trk-C gene expression in the spinal cords compared to CRUSH group. However, at day 1 and 3 post nerve injury, EGCG treatment significantly decreased the NGFR-p75 expression compared to CRUSH rats. In the sciatic nerve, EGCG treatment significantly (p < 0.01) increased the Trk-B and NGFR-p75 protein concentration in the controls. EGCG treatment significantly (p < 0.0001) increased the Trk-B, Trk-C and NGFR-p75 mRNA gene expressions in the sciatic nerves compared to CRUSH group. Only at day 1, CRUSH + EGCG animals displayed significant rise in the sciatic nerves NT3 gene expression compared to CRUSH group. Our data suggest that the EGCG neuroprotective effect on the spinal cord neurons may be mediated through the modulation of NTFs and NTF receptors following nerve crush injury in a rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. Electronic address: wrenno@hsc.edu.kw.
authors.forename: Waleed M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Renno
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Khalid M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Ludmil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
keywords: BDGF; GDGF; NGFR-p75; NT-3; Neuroregeneration; Trk-B