| Type | Number |
| Research | 23 |
| Review | 11 |
| Editorial | 2 |
| Communication | 2 |
| Brief report | 1 |
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that results in impaired sensory and motor function due to the limited self-regenerative ability of the spinal cord. To address this issue, combination therapy has been proposed as an effective treatment strategy for SCI regeneration. In this study, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)-derived exosomes loaded with dexamethasone were utilized in a mouse model of SCI compression. PRP-derived exosomes loaded with dexamethasone (Dex) were prepared using ultracentrifugation and sonication methods and were administered to the mice via intravenous injection. Following a four-week duration, behavioral assessments were administered to assess functional recuperation, and diverse metrics encompassing the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and antiapoptosis, serum cytokine concentrations and tissue sampling were subjected to thorough examination. The results of this study demonstrated that mice treated with PRP-derived exosomes loaded with Dex (ExoDex) exhibited altered levels of TNF-α and IL-10, along with decreased Bax and increased Bcl2 expression in comparison to the model group. Furthermore, intravenously injected ExoDex reduced the size of the lesion site, lymphocyte infiltration, vacuolation, cavity size and tissue disorganization while also improving locomotor recovery. We propose that the utilization of exosome-loaded Dex therapy holds potential as a promising and clinically relevant approach for injured spinal cord repair. However, further extensive research is warranted in this domain to validate and substantiate the outcomes presented in this study.
Citation: Naeimeh Akbari-Gharalari, Maryam Ghahremani-Nasab, Roya Naderi, Zeinab Aliyari-Serej, Mohammad Karimipour, Parviz Shahabi, Abbas Ebrahimi-Kalan. Improvement of spinal cord injury symptoms by targeting the Bax/Bcl2 pathway and modulating TNF-α/IL-10 using Platelet-Rich Plasma exosomes loaded with dexamethasone[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2023, 10(4): 332-353. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023026
| [1] | Xu Guo . Annual Report 2021. AIMS Microbiology, 2022, 8(1): 103-107. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2022009 |
| [2] | Xu Guo . Annual Report 2023. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(1): 62-67. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024004 |
| [3] | Nathan L'Etoile, Lindsay Brim, Susan Coffin, Ericka Hayes . Report of an outbreak of enterovirus disease in a neonatal intensive care unit and a systematic review of the literature. AIMS Microbiology, 2025, 11(1): 167-181. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025009 |
| [4] | Dolanchampa Modak, Silpak Biswas, Agnibho Mondal, Malabika Biswas, Maria Teresa Mascellino, Banya Chakraborty, Simmi Tiwari, Ajit Dadaji Shewale, Tushar Nale, Rupali Dey . Seroprevalence of brucellosis among animal handlers in West Bengal, India: an occupational health study. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(1): 1-11. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024001 |
| [5] | María José Lorenzo Pisarello, Antonela Marquez, Adriana Perez Chaia, Jaime Daniel Babot . Targeting gut health: Probiotics as promising therapeutics in alcohol-related liver disease management. AIMS Microbiology, 2025, 11(2): 410-435. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025019 |
| [6] | Alexey V. Rakov, Natalya A. Kuznetsova, Anatoly A. Yakovlev . Genetic diversity of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis in the Siberia and Far East of Russia based on plasmid profiles. AIMS Microbiology, 2020, 6(2): 106-120. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2020007 |
| [7] | Taish Ramkisson, Diane Rip . Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales from agricultural, environmental and clinical origins: South Africa in a global context. AIMS Microbiology, 2023, 9(4): 668-691. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2023034 |
| [8] | Divakar Dahiya, Caoimhin Mackin, Poonam Singh Nigam . Studies on bioactivities of Manuka and regional varieties of honey for their potential use as natural antibiotic agents for infection control related to wound healing and in pharmaceutical formulations. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(2): 288-310. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024015 |
| [9] | Matthew Johnston, Michael McBride, Divakar Dahiya, Richard Owusu-Apenten, Poonam Singh Nigam . Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview. AIMS Microbiology, 2018, 4(4): 655-664. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.4.655 |
| [10] | Masashi Uema, Kenzo Yonemitsu, Yoshimasa Sasaki, Hiroshi Asakura . Detection of hepatitis E virus RNA from pig bile collected at a slaughterhouse in Japan. AIMS Microbiology, 2022, 8(4): 566-574. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2022036 |
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that results in impaired sensory and motor function due to the limited self-regenerative ability of the spinal cord. To address this issue, combination therapy has been proposed as an effective treatment strategy for SCI regeneration. In this study, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)-derived exosomes loaded with dexamethasone were utilized in a mouse model of SCI compression. PRP-derived exosomes loaded with dexamethasone (Dex) were prepared using ultracentrifugation and sonication methods and were administered to the mice via intravenous injection. Following a four-week duration, behavioral assessments were administered to assess functional recuperation, and diverse metrics encompassing the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and antiapoptosis, serum cytokine concentrations and tissue sampling were subjected to thorough examination. The results of this study demonstrated that mice treated with PRP-derived exosomes loaded with Dex (ExoDex) exhibited altered levels of TNF-α and IL-10, along with decreased Bax and increased Bcl2 expression in comparison to the model group. Furthermore, intravenously injected ExoDex reduced the size of the lesion site, lymphocyte infiltration, vacuolation, cavity size and tissue disorganization while also improving locomotor recovery. We propose that the utilization of exosome-loaded Dex therapy holds potential as a promising and clinically relevant approach for injured spinal cord repair. However, further extensive research is warranted in this domain to validate and substantiate the outcomes presented in this study.
AIMS Microbiology is an international Open Access journal devoted to publishing peer-reviewed, high quality, original papers in the field of microbiology. Together with the Editorial Office of AIMS Microbiology, I wish to testify my sincere gratitude to all authors, members of the editorial board and reviewers for their contribution to AIMS Microbiology in 2022.
In 2022, We received more than 200 manuscripts and 40 of them were accepted and published. These published papers include 23 research articles, 11 review articles, 2 editorials, 2 communications and 1 brief report papers. The authors of the manuscripts are from more than 20 countries. The data shows a significant increase of international collaborations on the research of microbiology.
An important part of our strategy has been preparation of special issues. 2 special issues published more than five papers. AIMS Microbiology have invited 17 experts to join our Editorial Board in 2022. We will continue to renew Editorial Board in 2022.
We hope that in 2023, AIMS Microbiology can receive and collect more excellent articles to be able to publish. The journal will dedicate to publishing high quality papers by regular issues as well as special issues organized by the members of the editorial board. We believe that all these efforts will increase the impact and citations of the papers published by AIMS Microbiology.
On behalf of
AIMS Microbiology Editorial Board
The submissions of our AIMS Microbiology journal in 2022 increased. In 2022, AIMS Microbiology published 4 issues, a total of 40 articles were published online, and the category of published articles is as follows:
| Type | Number |
| Research | 23 |
| Review | 11 |
| Editorial | 2 |
| Communication | 2 |
| Brief report | 1 |
DownLoad:
CSV
Peer Review Rejection rate: 49%
Publication time (from submission to online): 75 days
Organizing high-quality special issue is a very important work in 2022. In 2022, 7 special issues were called. Listed below are some examples of issues that have more than 5 papers. We encourage Editorial Board members to propose more potential topics, and to act as editors of special issues.
| Special issue | link | Papers |
| Biotechnological applications of microorganisms in Industry, Agriculture and Environment | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6262/special-articles | 8 |
| Antimicrobials and Resistance | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6209/special-articles | 5 |
DownLoad:
CSV
AIMS Microbiology has Editorial Board members representing researchers from 20 countries, which are shown below. We are constantly assembling the editorial board to be representative to a variety of disciplines across the field of microbiology. AIMS Microbiology has 81 members now, and 17 of them joined in 2022. We will continue to invite dedicated experts and researchers in order to renew the Editorial Board in 2022.
Top 5 Cited Papers in last 2 years.
| No. | Article | Citations |
| 1 | Salmonella spp. quorum sensing: an overview from environmental persistence to host cell invasion | 10 |
| 2 | Ways to improve biocides for metalworking fluid | 9 |
| 3 | Yeasts in different types of cheese | 7 |
| 4 | Exploring endophytes for in vitro synthesis of bioactive compounds similar to metabolites produced in vivo by host plants | 7 |
| 5 | Listeria monocytogenes isolates from Western Cape, South Africa exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics and contradicts certain global resistance patterns | 6 |
DownLoad:
CSV
In the recent two years, our journal has developed much faster than before; Our journal has been indexed in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases. We received more than 200 manuscript submissions and published 40 papers in 2022. We have added 17 new Editorial Board members.
In 2023, we expect to publish more articles to enhance the reputation. We will invite more experts in the field of microbiology to publish a review or research article. To set a goal, we would like to publish 40 high-quality articles in 2023. In 2023, we will continue to update our editorial board. We hope that more experts in the field of microbiology can help us review and guest special issues.
| [1] |
Wang X, Li G, Zhang P, et al. (2019) Surface engineering of resveratrol to improve neuro-protection and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rat. J Drug Deliv Sci Tec 49: 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2018.10.016 
|
| [2] |
Kim J, Joshi HP, Kim K-T, et al. (2020) Combined treatment with fasudil and menthol improves functional recovery in rat spinal cord injury model. Biomedicines 8: 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8080258
|
| [3] |
Boutonnet M, Laemmel E, Vicaut E, et al. (2017) Combinatorial therapy with two pro-coagulants and one osmotic agent reduces the extent of the lesion in the acute phase of spinal cord injury in the rat. Intens Care Med Exp 5: 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-017-0164-z
|
| [4] |
Zhou X, He X, Ren Y (2014) Function of microglia and macrophages in secondary damage after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 9: 1787-95. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.143423
|
| [5] |
Qin C, Guo Y, Yang D-G, et al. (2018) Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Transplantation Improves Locomotor Recovery in Rat Models of Spinal Cord Injury: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Cell Physiol Biochem 47: 1835-1852. https://doi.org/10.1159/000491064
|
| [6] | Yuan X, Wu Q, Wang P, et al. (2019) Exosomes Derived From Pericytes Improve Microcirculation and Protect Blood–Spinal Cord Barrier After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice. Front Neurosci 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00319 |
| [7] |
Chavda VP, Sugandhi VV, Pardeshi CV, et al. (2023) Engineered exosomes for cancer theranostics: Next-generation tumor targeting. J Drug Deliv Sci Tec 85: 104579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104579
|
| [8] |
Munagala R, Aqil F, Jeyabalan J, et al. (2016) Bovine milk-derived exosomes for drug delivery. Cancer Lett 371: 48-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2015.10.020
|
| [9] |
Yang J, Wang Q, Xing T, et al. (2023) Engineered exosome-mediated cobalt sulfide quantum dot targeted delivery for photothermal and chemodynamic anticancer therapy. J Drug Deliv Sci Tec 83: 104441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104441
|
| [10] | Santos P, Almeida F (2021) Exosome-based vaccines: history, current state, and clinical trials. Front Immunol 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.711565 |
| [11] |
Wang J, Chen D, Ho EA (2021) Challenges in the development and establishment of exosome-based drug delivery systems. J Control Release 329: 894-906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.10.020
|
| [12] |
Zhou Y, Tian T, Zhu Y, et al. (2017) Exosomes transfer among different species cells and mediating miRNAs delivery. J Cell Biochem 118: 4267-4274. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.26077
|
| [13] |
van Hoof A, Parker R (1999) The Exosome: A Proteasome for RNA?. Cell 99: 347-350. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81520-2
|
| [14] |
Liu W-z, Ma Z-j, Li J-r, et al. (2021) Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: therapeutic opportunities and challenges for spinal cord injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 12: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-021-02153-8
|
| [15] |
Hellenbrand DJ, Reichl KA, Travis BJ, et al. (2019) Sustained interleukin-10 delivery reduces inflammation and improves motor function after spinal cord injury. J Neuroinflamm 16: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-019-1479-3
|
| [16] |
Ren Z, Qi Y, Sun S, et al. (2020) Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: hope for spinal cord injury repair. Stem Cells Dev 29: 1467-1478. https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2020.0133
|
| [17] |
Huang J-H, Yin X-M, Xu Y, et al. (2017) Systemic administration of exosomes released from mesenchymal stromal cells attenuates apoptosis, inflammation, and promotes angiogenesis after spinal cord injury in rats. J Neurotrauma 34: 3388-3396. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2017.5063
|
| [18] |
Irmak G, Demirtaş TT, Gümüşderelioğlu M (2020) Sustained release of growth factors from photoactivated platelet rich plasma (PRP). Eur J Pharm Biopharm 148: 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2019.11.011
|
| [19] |
Guo S-C, Tao S-C, Yin W-J, et al. (2017) Exosomes derived from platelet-rich plasma promote the re-epithelization of chronic cutaneous wounds via activation of YAP in a diabetic rat model. Theranostics 7: 81. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.16803
|
| [20] |
Ronchetti S, Migliorati G, Bruscoli S, et al. (2018) Defining the role of glucocorticoids in inflammation. Clin Sci 132: 1529-1543. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20171505
|
| [21] |
Wang Z, Zhou L, Zheng X, et al. (2018) Effects of dexamethasone on autophagy and apoptosis in acute spinal cord injury. Neuroreport 29: 1084-1091. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0000000000001076
|
| [22] |
Canseco JA, Karamian BA, Bowles DR, et al. (2021) Updated review: the steroid controversy for management of spinal cord injury. World Neurosurg 150: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.02.116
|
| [23] |
Kwiecien JM, Jarosz B, Urdzikova LM, et al. (2015) Subdural infusion of dexamethasone inhibits leukomyelitis after acute spinal cord injury in a rat model. Folia Neuropathol 53: 41-51. https://doi.org/10.5114/fn.2015.49973
|
| [24] |
Kwiecien JM, Jarosz B, Oakden W, et al. (2016) An in vivo model of anti-inflammatory activity of subdural dexamethasone following the spinal cord injury. Neurol Neurochir Pol 50: 7-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pjnns.2015.10.006
|
| [25] | Polderman JAW, Farhang-Razi V, Van Dieren S, et al. (2018) Adverse side effects of dexamethasone in surgical patients. Cochrane Db Syst Rev 8. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011940.pub2 |
| [26] |
Zhao J, Li Y, Jia R, et al. (2021) Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes as dexamethasone delivery vehicles for autoimmune hepatitis therapy. Front Bioeng Biotech 9: 650376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.650376
|
| [27] | Théry C, Amigorena S, Raposo G, et al. (2006) Isolation and characterization of exosomes from cell culture supernatants and biological fluids. Curr Protoc Cell Biol https: //doi.org/10.1002/0471143030.cb0322s30. |
| [28] |
Wan Y, Wang L, Zhu C, et al. (2018) Aptamer-Conjugated Extracellular Nanovesicles for Targeted Drug Delivery. Cancer Res 78: 798-808. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-2880
|
| [29] |
Basso DM, Beattie MS, Bresnahan JC (1995) A sensitive and reliable locomotor rating scale for open field testing in rats. J Neurotrauma 12: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.1995.12.1
|
| [30] |
Teng X, Chen L, Chen W, et al. (2015) Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Improve the Microenvironment of Infarcted Myocardium Contributing to Angiogenesis and Anti-Inflammation. Cell Physiol Biochem 37: 2415-2424. https://doi.org/10.1159/000438594
|
| [31] |
Pang Q-M, Qian N-N, Zou W-H, et al. (2022) PBMSCs transplantation facilitates functional recovery after spinal cord injury by regulating microglia/macrophages plasticity. Transpl Immunol 72: 101592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trim.2022.101592
|
| [32] |
He X, Li Y, Deng B, et al. (2022) The PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in inflammation, cell death and glial scar formation after traumatic spinal cord injury: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Cell Proliferat 55: e13275. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpr.13275
|
| [33] |
Zhang X, Jiang W, Lu Y, et al. (2023) Exosomes combined with biomaterials in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Front Bioeng Biotech 11: 1077825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1077825
|
| [34] | Omrani M, Beyrampour-Basmenj H, Jahanban-Esfahlan R, et al. (2023) Global trend in exosome isolation and application: an update concept in management of diseases. Mol Cell Biochem https: //doi.org/10.1007/s11010-023-04756-6. |
| [35] |
Nasirishargh A, Kumar P, Ramasubramanian L, et al. (2021) Exosomal microRNAs from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: Biology and applications in neuroprotection. World J Stem Cells 13: 776. https://doi.org/10.4252/wjsc.v13.i7.776
|
| [36] | LI Q-X (2020) Effects of dexamethasone combined with estrogen on the expression of interleukin-6, Caspase3 and Bcl-2 after spinal cord contusion in rats. Chinese J Tissue Eng Res : 2680-2685. |
| [37] |
Xiao G, Xu Z, Luo F (2023) Combinational antitumor strategies of exosomes as drug carriers: Mini review. Front Pharmacol 13: 1107329. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1107329
|
Naeimeh Akbari-Gharalari, Maryam Ghahremani-Nasab, Roya Naderi, Zeinab Aliyari-Serej, Mohammad Karimipour, Parviz Shahabi, Abbas Ebrahimi-Kalan. Improvement of spinal cord injury symptoms by targeting the Bax/Bcl2 pathway and modulating TNF-α/IL-10 using Platelet-Rich Plasma exosomes loaded with dexamethasone[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2023, 10(4): 332-353. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2023026
| Type | Number |
| Research | 23 |
| Review | 11 |
| Editorial | 2 |
| Communication | 2 |
| Brief report | 1 |
DownLoad:
CSV
| Special issue | link | Papers |
| Biotechnological applications of microorganisms in Industry, Agriculture and Environment | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6262/special-articles | 8 |
| Antimicrobials and Resistance | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6209/special-articles | 5 |
DownLoad:
CSV
| No. | Article | Citations |
| 1 | Salmonella spp. quorum sensing: an overview from environmental persistence to host cell invasion | 10 |
| 2 | Ways to improve biocides for metalworking fluid | 9 |
| 3 | Yeasts in different types of cheese | 7 |
| 4 | Exploring endophytes for in vitro synthesis of bioactive compounds similar to metabolites produced in vivo by host plants | 7 |
| 5 | Listeria monocytogenes isolates from Western Cape, South Africa exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics and contradicts certain global resistance patterns | 6 |
DownLoad:
CSV
| Type | Number |
| Research | 23 |
| Review | 11 |
| Editorial | 2 |
| Communication | 2 |
| Brief report | 1 |
| Special issue | link | Papers |
| Biotechnological applications of microorganisms in Industry, Agriculture and Environment | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6262/special-articles | 8 |
| Antimicrobials and Resistance | https://www.aimspress.com/aimsmicro/article/6209/special-articles | 5 |
| No. | Article | Citations |
| 1 | Salmonella spp. quorum sensing: an overview from environmental persistence to host cell invasion | 10 |
| 2 | Ways to improve biocides for metalworking fluid | 9 |
| 3 | Yeasts in different types of cheese | 7 |
| 4 | Exploring endophytes for in vitro synthesis of bioactive compounds similar to metabolites produced in vivo by host plants | 7 |
| 5 | Listeria monocytogenes isolates from Western Cape, South Africa exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics and contradicts certain global resistance patterns | 6 |
