Metallic gold treatment reduces proliferation of inflammatory cells, increases expression of VEGF and FGF, and stimulates cell proliferation in the subventricular zone following experimental traumatic brain injury

The authors examine the effect of gold implants in the case of traumatic brain injury, considering that it has recently been shown that gold ions bio-released “from small metallic gold implants reduce inflammation and neuronal apoptosis”. In their study, “mice were subjected to a unilateral traumatic cryo-lesion with concomitant injection of 25–45 m gold particles near the lesion”. Placebo-treated mice received cryo-lesion for control.

Investigating the effects of gold treatment involved determining the “gold-induced growth factor expression (VEGF and FGF) [signalling proteins that regulate cell growth] in the first two weeks after the insult”. The “neurostimulatory effect of gold was explored” based on “cell proliferation in the subventricular zone as judged by immunohistochemical staining for CDC47”.

Vimentin staining showed “a decrease in activated microglia and a transient astrogliosis in response” to the gold release. “Moreover, gold ions significantly increase the expression of VEGF and FGF following trauma” as well as “cell proliferation in both the ipsilateral and the contralateral subventricular zone”.

The authors conclude that they “confirmed the previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect” of bio-released gold ions and furthermore showed “that metallic gold increases growth factor expression and adult neurogenesis”.
 

Mie Østergaard Pedersen, Agnete Larsen, Dan Sonne Pedersen, Meredin Stoltenberg, Milena Penkova: Metallic gold treatment reduces proliferation of inflammatory cells, increases expression of VEGF and FGF, and stimulates cell proliferation in the subventricular zone following experimental traumatic brain injury. Histol Histopathol (2009) 24:573–586, http://www.hh.um.es/Abstracts/Vol_24/24_5/24_5_573.htm .