In vitro model to mimic aggrecan fragmentation profiles after spinal cord injury

Michaela W. McCrary, Young Hye Song, Stacy L. Porvasnik, Rebecca Wachs, Amanda Fosang, Christine E. Schmidt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Statement of Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating and complex condition whose mechanistic underpinnings are not entirely understood. One way to study these mechanisms is by using in vitro models. Unfortunately, current in vitro models for SCI lack physiological relevance as most are two dimensional, do not provide a dynamic microenvironment, or utilize materials that do not occur in spinal cord extracellular matrix (ECM) in relevant concentrations.1 Spinal cord ECM is primarily composed of hyaluronan, tenascin-R, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs).2 After injury, however, dynamic changes occur in the microenvironment that ultimately lead to excessive deposition of CSPGs to form an inhibitory glial scar.2 Although most CSPG subtypes are upregulated after injury, one type of CSPG called aggrecan is down-regulated and pre-existing protein is actively removed from the ECM.3,4 This fragmentation phenomenon has been linked to disease and injury progression in other contexts including epilepsy and osteoarthritis.5,6 However, the role of aggrecan fragmentation on SCI progression and glial scar response is relatively unknown. The aim of this study is to establish the spatiotemporal profiles of aggrecan fragmentation after SCI then recapitulate these profiles in a novel in vitro model to observe the effect of this phenomenon on native glial cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSociety for Biomaterials Annual Meeting and Exposition 2019
Subtitle of host publicationThe Pinnacle of Biomaterials Innovation and Excellence - Transactions of the 42nd Annual Meeting
PublisherSociety for Biomaterials
Pages119
Number of pages1
ISBN (Electronic)9781510883901
StatePublished - 2019
Event42nd Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting and Exposition 2019: The Pinnacle of Biomaterials Innovation and Excellence - Seattle, United States
Duration: Apr 3 2019Apr 6 2019

Publication series

NameTransactions of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Biomaterials and the Annual International Biomaterials Symposium
Volume40
ISSN (Print)1526-7547

Conference

Conference42nd Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting and Exposition 2019: The Pinnacle of Biomaterials Innovation and Excellence
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle
Period4/3/194/6/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Biotechnology
  • Biomaterials
  • Materials Chemistry

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