Imatinib inhibits pericyte-fibroblast transition and inflammation and promotes axon regeneration by blocking the PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ pathway in spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fibrotic scar formation and inflammation are characteristic pathologies of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the injured core, which has been widely regarded as the main barrier to axonal regeneration resulting in permanent functional recovery failure. Pericytes were shown to be the main source of fibroblasts that form fibrotic scar. However, the mechanism of pericyte-fibroblast transition after SCI remains elusive.

Methods

Fibrotic scarring and microvessels were assessed using immunofluorescence staining after establishing a crush SCI model. To study the process of pericyte-fibroblast transition, we analyzed pericyte marker and fibroblast marker expression using immunofluorescence. The distribution and cellular origin of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB were ex

SUBMITTER: Yao F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9511779 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature