Prof. MUDr. Eva Syková, DrSc. Laboratory of Diffusion Studies and Imaging MethodsHead: Prof. MUDr. Eva Syková, DrSc. Laboratory of Tissue Culture and Stem CellsHead: RNDr. Pavla Jendelová, PhD. Scientists:MVDr. Takashi Amemori, PhD. Ph.D. Students:Dr. David Arboleda Technical Assistants:Dominika Dušková Laboratory of Diffusion Studies and Imaging MethodsDiffusion properties of the nervous tissue in health and disease The Laboratory of Diffusion Studies and Imaging Methods studies the changes in the extracellular space that occur during physiological and pathological states. Several animal models of pathological states and diseases attacking the CNS are used, e.g., models of chronic pain, ischemia and ischemic lesions, perinatal and early postnatal anoxia, brain edema, hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, tumors, developmental disorders, changes during aging, and brain and spinal cord injury, as well as models of CNS damage evoked by chemical or physical factors such as neurotoxins and X-irradiation. The research aims are the improvement of therapy and diagnostic methods for CNS diseases and the prevention of CNS damage. Research at the Laboratory of Diffusion Studies and Imaging Methods focuses on the following main topics:
Studies at the Laboratory are aimed at understanding the maintenance of ionic and volume homeostasis in the CNS, the extracellular space as a communication channel, the diffusion parameters of the extracellular space, extrasynaptic "volume" transmission and the role of glia in signal transmission, behavior and regeneration. Laboratory of Tissue Culture and Stem CellsRegeneration of the CNS using cell therapy and polymer scaffolds The Laboratory of Tissue Culture and Stem Cells studies the isolation, labeling and application of stem cells in experimental models of brain and spinal cord injury. The implantation of polymer scaffolds into defects in the central nervous system can reduce glial scar formation, bridge the lesion and lead to tissue regeneration within the scaffold. Various cell types, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) olfactory glial cells, and mouse and human embryonic stem cells, are studied as candidates for supporting neural tissue regeneration. Macroporous polymer hydrogels or nanofiber scaffolds support three-dimensional cell growth under in vitro conditions, and cell-polymer constructs, consisting of a polymer scaffold and cellular elements, are utilized and implanted in order to support regeneration in damaged tissue. Research at the Laboratory of Tissue Culture and Stem Cells focuses on these main topics:
The aim of our cell therapy studies is to replace, repair or improve the biological functioning of defective nervous tissue. This aim can be achieved through the transplantation of cell-polymer constructs or isolated and well-characterized cells into the injured CNS in sufficient numbers and quality so that they can induce the recovery of function. Fig. 1: Diffusion parameters in a glioblastoma
Fig. 2: Simultaneous measurement of light transmitance, ECS diffusion parameters and changes in extracellular K+ concentration
Fig. 3: Traumatic brain injury
Fig. 4: Structural changes in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus region of aged rats
Fig. 5: TMA+ measurements and typical diffusion curves in control and APP23 mice
Fig. 6: An APP23 mouse brain stained for amyloid plaques
Fig. 7: Typical apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADCW) maps of tenascin
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ADCW was calculated in five selected areas: motor cortex (M), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), secondary somatosensory cortex (S2), hippocampus (HIP) and thalamus (TH). (A and B) The areas are outlined in the microphotographs of Cresyl violet-stained slices. (C and D) The images show ADCW maps of TN-R+⁄+ and TN-R–⁄– mice; both images are from the same coronal plane as shown in (B). The scale at the bottom of the figure shows the relation between the intervals of ADCW values and the colors used for visualization. Note the lower ADCW throughout the whole slice from the TN-R–⁄– mouse when compared with the TN-R+⁄+ control. |
(A) Cells in culture labeled with BrdU (brown nuclei), containing the contrast agent Endorem (Prussian blue staining). (B) Transmission electron microphotograph showing a cluster of iron particles surrounded by a cell membrane, confirming the presence of iron inside the cell. (C-E) Cells labeled with Endorem undergoing cell division, confirming that incorporation of Endorem does not adversely affect cell viability (anti-BrdU and Prussian blue staining). Transplanted nanoparticle-labeled cells can be detected in vivo using MR imaging. |
Upper row: The first image (lesion) shows a photochemical lesion 12 hours after a thrombosis evoked by dye/light interaction, prior to any cell implantation. The cell implant labeled with superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion is clearly visible as a hypointense area (24h post-implantation). A hypointense signal in the lesion was seen 14 days after grafting (14 d PI), suggesting the migration of implanted cells into the lesion. Lower row: The first image (lesion) shows a photochemical lesion 12 hours after a thrombosis evoked by dye/light interaction, prior to cell implantation. A hypointense signal in the lesion observed 7 days after the intravenous injection of MSCs labeled with nanoparticles (7 days PI) persisited in the lesion for the whole measurement period (7 weeks PI). Inserts shows a higher magnification view of the lesion. |
A comparison of longitudinal sections of spinal cords with a balloon-induced compression lesion five weeks after the i.v. injection of saline (A), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to mobilize endogenous bone marrow cells, (B), a freshly prepared mononuclear fraction of bone marrow cells (C) or mesenchymal stem cells (D). Note that the lesion cavity is smaller after cell treatment suggesting a positive effect of the cells on lesion repair. |
An electron micrograph of a nanofiber layer made by electrospinning copolymers of hydroxypropylmethacrylamide and ethoxyethylmethacrylate at low magnification (A). These nanofibers can be used as stem cell carriers for tissue regeneration. The growth of olfactory ensheathing cells on a nanofiber scaffold after 24h of cultivation (B). Cells were stained with CFDA (green). Mesenchymal stem cells on nanofiber layers 24h after seeding (C,D). Cells were stained with phalloidin (red) and DAPI (blue). |
Name of the grant |
Grant agency |
Number of the grant |
Principal investigator (coinvestigator) |
Duration of the grant |
Research project: "Molecular, cellular and systems mechanisms of serious diseases of the human organism, their diagnosis, therapy and pharmacotherapy " |
AVČR |
AV0Z50390512 |
Syková |
2005-10 |
Research centre: “Centre for cell therapy and tissue repair”. |
MŠMT ČR |
1M0021620803 |
Syková |
2005-09 |
Research center: "Centre of neuroscience" |
MŠMT ČR |
LC554 |
Syka |
2005-09 |
Autologous transplantation of bone marrow stem cells in patients with spinal cord transection |
IGA MZ |
NR/8339 - 3 |
Syková |
2005-07 |
PhD program in neuroscience |
GAČR |
309/03/H095 |
Syková |
2003-07 |
Utilization of biocompatible macroporous hydrogels containing cell cultures for therapy of spinal cord injury |
IGA MZ |
1A8697-5 |
Syková |
2005-09 |
Utilization of olfactory ensheating glia and bone marrow stromal cells for spinal cord injury repair |
GAČR |
309/06/1246 |
Syková (Jendelová) |
2006-08 |
Cellular contrast media and their utilization in MR imaging |
GAČR |
309/06/1594 |
Herynek (Jendelová) |
2006-08
|
Combined contrast media for molecular MR imaging |
AV ČR |
KAN201110651 |
Lukeš (Syková) |
2006-10 |
Utilization of new synthetized biomaterials in combination with stem cells in the therapy of diseases affecting human tisse derived from the mesoderm: cartilage, bone, ligaments and meniscus |
MŠMT ČR |
2B06130 |
Nečas (Syková) |
2006-11 |
Polarized cultures of hepatocytes and mesenchymal cells in nanofiber layers in an experimental bioreactor |
GAČR |
304/07/1129 |
Ryska (Syková) |
2007-09 |
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