This project, led by Assoc Prof Jenny Ekberg analysed how cells isolated from the nose – known as olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) – can clean up the ‘debris’ and bacteria that surrounds them. When an injury to the spinal cord occurs, there is considerable damage which leads to many cells dying and creating debris which needs to be removed.
In addition, the injury can also lead to bacteria penetrating the wound which can lead to infection. These bacteria also need to be removed.
Thanks to the previously funded PCSRF projects in 2013 and 2015, the Spinal Injury Project team had identified how olfactory ensheathing cells can be stimulated, and that these activities could be useful for removing cell debris and bacteria.
This research project has now explored in depth how the olfactory cells can take up dead cells and bacteria, and how this affects the olfactory cells over time.
The outcomes of this research is that the Spinal Injury Project team now have in-depth understanding of how the cells can be used to help clean up the injury site and how the activity can be turned on and turned off as needed.
Publications
Chen M, Vial ML, Tello Velasquez J, Ekberg JA, Davis RA, St John JA. 2018. The serrulatane diterpenoid natural products RAD288 and RAD289 stimulate properties of olfactory ensheathing cells useful for neural repair therapies. 8(1):10240. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28551-2.
Nazareth L, Chen M, Shelper T, Shah M, Tello Velasquez J, Walkden H, Beacham I, Batzloff M, Rayfield A, Todorovic M, Beagley KW, St John JA, Ekberg JAK. 2019. Novel insights into the glia limitans of the olfactory nervous system. J Comp Neurol. 527(7):1228-1244, DOI: 10.1002/cne.24618.
Wright AA, Todorovic M, Murtaza M, St John JA, Ekberg JA. 2020. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor and its binding partner HTRA1 are expressed by olfactory ensheathing cells. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 102:103450. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2019.103450.
Murtaza M, Chacko A, Delbaz A, Reshamwala R, Rayfield A, McMonagle B, St John JA, Ekberg JAK. 2019. Why are olfactory ensheathing cell tumors so rare? Cancer Cell International 19:260. doi: 10.1186/s12935-019-0989-5.
Beecher K, St John JA, Chehrehasa F. 2018. Factors that modulate olfactory dysfunction: a review. Neural Regeneration Research, 13(7):1151-1155. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.235018.
In 2018 Catwalk Trust also donated $75,000 NZD to support this research – you can learn more here.
Catriona Williams MNZM, founder of the CatWalk Trust and a C6/C7 tetraplegic, says that directing funding towards speeding up the clinical process is typical of CatWalk Trust’s dedication to supporting pioneering and ground-breaking research projects, and its tireless efforts to get people out of wheelchairs and back on their feet.
“Spinal cord injury has an overwhelming impact here in New Zealand, as it does in Australia, and the opportunity to speed up new therapeutic interventions like those being investigated by Assoc Prof St John and his team was a major driver in CatWalk Trust awarding the funding grant.”
