Neuroregeneration

Research Group Tissue Regeneration

Injuries of the nervous system belong to the most critical events in trauma patients, since nerves are responsible for impulse perception and processing. If these nerves are damaged due to accidents and trauma, impulses can no longer be transmitted and patients lose their sensibility and motor skills.

The group around David Hercher and Thomas Hausner examines both the impact on the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system. In the area of the CNS, reducing secondary damages of spinal cord injuries is essential. The research focus is therefore put on:

  • New therapeutic aspects
  • Molecular mechanisms
  • Specific imaging techniques

Furthermore, the group researches the peripheral nervous system. The aim is thereby to improve the regeneration of peripheral nerves as well as the re-innervation to targeted organs such as skeletal muscles. Emphasis is put on:

  • Development of bio absorbable synthetic nerve transplants
  • The impact of phenotypical differences on the regeneration after nerve transplantations
  • The impact of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on the regeneration of peripheral nerves
  • Improvement of the gliding capabilities of nerves in tissue
  • Improvement of micro-surgical suturing techniques (end-to-side technique to connect severed nerve stumps to already existing nerves)
  • Improvement of end results of brain function after nerve reconstruction by using a training device to produce multimodal virtual sensibility

All these research findings are aimed at being translated into the clinical application to contribute to improving the care of trauma patients. This is already the case for end-to-side coaptation of nerves, the use of virtual sensibility and the improvement of the gliding capabilities of nerve tissue.

a.

Selected Publications

Ashmwe M, Posa K, Rührnößl A, Heinzel JC, Heimel P, Mock M, Schädl B, Keibl C, Couillard-Despres S, Redl H, Mittermayr R, Hercher D (2022). Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Functional Recovery and Circulating miR-375 and miR-382-5p after Subacute and Chronic Spinal Cord Contusion Injury in Rats. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 7;10(7):1630.
(free PDF)

Heinzel JC, Oberhauser V, Keibl C, Schädl B, Swiadek NV, Längle G, Frick H, Slezak C, Prahm C, Grillari J, Kolbenschlag J, Hercher D (2022). ESWT Diminishes Axonal Regeneration following Repair of the Rat Median Nerve with Muscle-In-Vein Conduits but Not after Autologous Nerve Grafting. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 22;10(8):1777. 
(free PDF)

Hromada C, Hartmann J, Johannes Oesterreicher J, Anton Stoiber A, Daerr A, Schädl B, Priglinger E, Teuschl-Woller AH, Holnthoner W, Heinzel J, Hercher D (2022) Occurrence of Lymphangiogenesis in Peripheral Nerve Autografts Contrasts Schwann Cell-Induced Apoptosis of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells In Vitro. Biomolecules. 2022 Jun 12;12(6):820. 
(free PDF)

Romanelli P, Bieler L, Heimel P, Škokić S, Jakubecova D, Kreutzer C, Zaunmair P, Škokić T, Benedetti B, Rohde E, Gimona M, Hercher D, Dobrivojević Radmilović M, Couillard-Despres S (2022) Enhancing Functional Recovery Through Intralesional Application of Extracellular Vesicles in a Rat Model of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2022 Jan 3;15:795008.
(free PDF)

Heinzel JC, Nguyen MQ, Kefalianakis L, Prahm C, Daigeler A, Hercher D, Kolbenschlag J (2021) A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing muscle-in-vein conduits with autologous nerve grafts for nerve reconstruction. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 3;11(1):11691.
(free PDF)

Heinzel J, Längle G, Oberhauser V, Hausner T, Kolbenschlag J, Prahm C, Grillari J, Hercher D (2020) Use of the CatWalk gait analysis system to assess functional recovery in rodent models of peripheral nerve injury – a systematic review. J Neurosci Methods 2020 Nov 1;345:108889.

Heinzel J, Swiadek N, Ashmwe M, Rührnößl A, Oberhauser V, Kolbenschlag J, Hercher D (2020) Automated Gait Analysis to Assess Functional Recovery in Rodents with Peripheral Nerve or Spinal Cord Contusion Injury. J Vis Exp 2020 Oct 6;(164).

Hercher D, Redl H, Schuh CMAP (2020) Motor and sensory Schwann cell phenotype commitment is diminished by extracorporeal shockwave treatment in vitro. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2020 Mar;25(1):32-43.

Hercher D, Kerbl M, Schuh CMAP, Heinzel J, Gal L, Stainer M, Schmidhammer R, Hausner T, Redl H, Nógrádi A, Hacobian A. (2019) Spatiotemporal Differences in Gene Expression Between Motor and Sensory Autografts and Their Effect on Femoral Nerve Regeneration in the Rat. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 May 8;13:182.
(free PDF)

Heimel P, Swiadek NV, Slezak P, Kerbl M, Schneider C, Nürnberger S, Redl H, Teuschl AH, Hercher D. (2019) Iodine-Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of Soft Tissue on the Example of Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 May 8;13:182.
(free PDF)

Berkovitch Y, Cohen T, Peled E, Schmidhammer R, Florian H, Teuschl AH, Wolbank S, Yelin D, Redl H, Seliktar D. (2017) Hydrogel composition and laser micropatterning to regulate sciatic nerve regeneration. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018 Apr;12(4):1049-1061. 

Schuh CM, Monforte X, Hackethal J, Redl H & Teuschl AH (2016). Covalent binding of placental derived proteins to silk fibroin improves schwann cell adhesion and proliferation. J Mater Sci Mater Med, 27(12):188.

Schuh CM, Hercher D, Stainer M, Hopf R, Teuschl AH, Schmidhammer R & Redl H (2016). Extracorporeal shockwave treatment: A novel tool to improve Schwann cell isolation and culture. Cytotherapy, 18(6):760-770.

Schuh CM, Morton TJ, Banerjee A, Grasl C, Schima H, Schmidhammer R, Redl H & Ruenzler D (2015). Activated Schwann Cell-Like Cells on Aligned Fibrin-Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Structures: A Novel Construct for Application in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Cells Tissues Organs, 200(5):287-299.

Teuschl AH, Schuh C, Halbweis R, Pajer K, Márton G, Hopf R, Mosia S, Rünzler D, Redl H, Nógrádi A & Hausner T (2015). A New Preparation Method for Anisotropic Silk Fibroin Nerve Guidance Conduits and Its Evaluation In Vitro and in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Defect Model. Tissue Eng Part C Methods, 21(9):945-957.

Schuh CM, Heher P, Weihs AM, Banerjee A, Fuchs C, Gabriel C, Wolbank S, Mittermayr R, Redl H, Rünzler D & Teuschl AH (2014). In vitro extracorporeal shock wave treatment enhances stemness and preserves multipotency of rat and human adipose-derived stem cells. Cytotherapy, 16(12):1666-1678.

Banerjee A, Nürnberger S, Hennerbichler S, Riedl S, Schuh CM, Hacobian A, Teuschl A, Eibl J, Redl H & Wolbank S (2014). In toto differentiation of human amniotic membrane towards the Schwann cell lineage. Cell Tissue Bank, 15(2):227-239.

Hausner T, Marvaldi L, Márton G, Pajer K, Hopf R, Schmidhammer R, Hausott B, Redl H, Nógrádi A & Klimaschewski L (2014). Inhibition of calpains fails to improve regeneration through a peripheral nerve conduit. Neurosci Lett, 566:280-285.
(free full text)

Pajenda G, Hercher D, Márton G, Pajer K, Feichtinger GA, Maléth J, Redl H & Nógrádi A (2014). Spatiotemporally limited BDNF and GDNF overexpression rescues motoneurons destined to die and induces elongative axon growth. Exp Neurol, 261:367-376.

Hausner T & Nógrádi A (2013). The use of shock waves in peripheral nerve regeneration: new perspectives? Int Rev Neurobiol, 109:85-98.

Pajenda G, Pajer K, Márton G, Hegyi P, Redl H & Nógrádi A (2013). Rescue of injured motoneurones by grafted neuroectodermal stem cells: effect of the location of graft. Restor Neurol Neurosci, 31(3):263-74.

Rath J, Schmidhammer R, Steinkellner T, Klinger N, Geissler A & Beisteiner R (2008). Evaluation of functional cortex for the diseased hand in a patient after hemispherectomy. Arch Neurol, 65(12):1664-1665.

Millesi H & Schmidhammer R (2008). Nerve fiber transfer by end-to-side coaptation. Hand Clin, 24(4):461-483.