Anti-Neuroinflammatory and Neurotrophic Effects of Combined Therapy with Annexin II and Reg-2 on Injured Spinal Cord

The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Ca 2+ -dependent phospholipid-binding protein annexin II and a secreted protein Reg-2 (regeneration gene protein 2) in spinal cord injury (SCI) model produced by contusion SCI at T 9 using the weight drop method. The agents were delivered intrathecally with Alzet miniosmotic pumps. We found that annexin II and Reg-2 remarkably reduced neuronal death, attenuated tissue damage and alleviated detrimental inflammation in vivo; meanwhile, a significant increase in white matter sparing and myelination area was observed. The propriospinal axons and long-distance supraspinal pathways were protected by the treatments as revealed by retrograde tracing. Basso Beattie Bresnahan locomotor rating scores also revealed a measurable behavioral improvement. However, no evident behavioral improvements in locomotor performance were achieved by the combined treatment with annexin II and Reg-2, compared with the separate treatment with annexin II and Reg-2. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel Received: October 25, 2010 Accepted after revision: January 13, 2011 Published online: March 23, 2011 Shu Han, PhD Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical College, Zhejiang University 388 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 (China) Tel. +86 571 8820 8160, E-Mail han00shu @ zju.edu.cn © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel 1424–862X/11/0191–0016$38.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/nsg D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 11 /2 3/ 20 17 2 :1 6: 44 P M