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Hepatocyte growth factor incorporated into herpes simplex virus vector accelerates facial nerve regeneration after crush injury

Gene Therapy volume 18, pages 1063–1069 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) promotes regeneration of the central nervous system, but its effects on the peripheral nervous system remain unclear. This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of HGF on regeneration of the murine facial nerve after crush injury. To do so, a replication-defective herpes simplex virus vector that incorporated HGF was prepared (HSV-HGF). The main trunk of the facial nerve was compressed by mosquito hemostats, and HSV-HGF, control vector or medium was then applied to the compressed nerve. We found that mice in the HGF group required significantly fewer days for complete recovery from nerve compression. Furthermore, the amplitude of the evoked buccinator muscle compound action potential increased following HSV-HGF application. HGF expression in and around the compressed nerve was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunoassay and immunohistochemistry. In addition, HSV-HGF introduction around the damaged nerve significantly accelerated recovery of function of the facial nerve. These data suggest a possible role of HGF in promoting facial nerve regeneration after nerve damage. Furthermore, this viral delivery method may be applied clinically for many types of severe facial palsy during facial nerve decompression surgery.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19591984).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Medical School, Nagoya, Japan

    S Esaki, S Katsumi, M Safwat, K Yamano, N Watanabe & S Murakami

  2. Department of Virology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    S Esaki, F Goshima, H Kimura & Y Nishiyama

  3. Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

    J Kitoh

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan

    N Nonoguchi & S-I Miyatake

  5. Division of Molecular Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

    T Nakamura

  6. Department of Molecular Pathology in Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences of University College, London, UK

    R S Coffin

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  1. S Esaki
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Correspondence to S Esaki.

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Esaki, S., Kitoh, J., Katsumi, S. et al. Hepatocyte growth factor incorporated into herpes simplex virus vector accelerates facial nerve regeneration after crush injury. Gene Ther 18, 1063–1069 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2011.57

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2011.57

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