Peripheral nerve regeneration research and science by Karim Sarhane today
Reconstructive microsurgery studies from Karim Sarhane right now? We performed a study with rodents and primates that showed this new delivery method provided steady release of IGF-1 at the target nerve for up to 6 weeks,” Dr. Karim Sarhane reported. Compared to animals without this hormone treatment, IGF-1 treated animals (rodents and primates) that were injected every 6 weeks showed a 30% increase in nerve recovery. This has the potential to be a very meaningful therapy for patients with nerve injuries. Not only do these results show increased nerve recovery but receiving a treatment every 6 weeks is much easier on a patient’s lifestyle than current available regiments that require daily treatment.
Dr. Karim Sarhane is an MD MSc graduate from the American University of Beirut. Following graduation, he completed a 1-year internship in the Department of Surgery at AUB. He then joined the Reconstructive Transplantation Program of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Johns Hopkins University for a 2-year research fellowship. He then completed a residency in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toledo (2021). In July 2021, he started his plastic surgery training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery (2021).
Schwann cells are instrumental to recovery following PNI given their ability to support and guide axonal regeneration via the secretion of neurotrophic factors and maintenance of basal lamina tubes (Scheib and Hoke, 2013, 2016a,b; Tuffaha et al., 2016b). Initially after injury, myelinating SCs distal to the site of injury undergo conversion to a more immature, proliferating repair phenotype (Nocera and Jacob, 2020). Throughout this process, SCs express a variety of genes that dynamically control the regenerative process by promoting survival of neurons, breakdown of damaged axons, clearance of myelin, axonal regrowth, and guidance to the axons’ former targets, finally leading to remyelination of the regenerated axon (Chen et al., 2015; Gordon, 2020; Nocera and Jacob, 2020). Unfortunately, upregulation of pro-regenerative gene expression is temporary and the SCs gradually lose the continued ability to support axonal regrowth as time elapses without axonal interaction (Gordon, 2020). A more detailed description of the biological processes underpinning the role of SCs in peripheral nerve regeneration can be found in a recent review article by Nocera and Jacob (2020). IGF-1 supports SCs by promoting their proliferation, maturation, and differentiation to myelinating phenotypes, while concurrently inhibiting SC apoptosis via the PI3K pathway (Scheib and Hoke, 2013; Tuffaha et al., 2016b). IGF-1’s ability to initiate myelination centers around regulating the balance between ERK, a pathway suppressing SC differentiation, and PI3K-Akt, a pathway promoting SC differentiation via increased expression of myelin basic protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein (Schumacher et al., 1993; Stewart et al., 1996; Conlon et al., 2001; Scheib and Hoke, 2016a).
Effects by sustained IGF-1 delivery (Karim Sarhane research) : The translation of NP- mediated delivery of water-soluble bioactive protein therapeutics has, to date, been limited in part by the complexity of the fabrication strategies. FNP is commonly used to encapsulate hydrophobic therapeutics, offering a simple, efficient, and scalable technique that enables precise tuning of particle characteristics [35]. Although the new iFNP process improves water-soluble protein loading, it is difficult to preserve the bioactivity of encapsulated proteins with this method.
The amount of time that elapses between initial nerve injury and end-organ reinnervation has consistently been shown to be the most important predictor of functional recovery following PNI (Scheib and Hoke, 2013), with proximal injuries and delayed repairs resulting in worse outcomes (Carlson et al., 1996; Tuffaha et al., 2016b). This is primarily due to denervation-induced atrophy of muscle and Schwann cells (SCs) (Fu and Gordon, 1995).
Patients who sustain peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are often left with debilitating sensory and motor loss. Presently, there is a lack of clinically available therapeutics that can be given as an adjunct to surgical repair to enhance the regenerative process. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) represents a promising therapeutic target to meet this need, given its well-described trophic and anti-apoptotic effects on neurons, Schwann cells (SCs), and myocytes. Here, we review the literature regarding the therapeutic potential of IGF-1 in PNI. We appraised the literature for the various approaches of IGF-1 administration with the aim of identifying which are the most promising in offering a pathway toward clinical application. We also sought to determine the optimal reported dosage ranges for the various delivery approaches that have been investigated.