Circular Ribonucleic Acid Expression Alteration in the Spinal Cord Tissue after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Chongxi Xu ◽  
Hui Hu ◽  
Tong Yi ◽  
Xihang Zeng ◽  
Yu Hu ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background and Purpose:</i></b> Increased researches focus into pathophysiological mechanisms of spinal cord injury (SCI), particularly toward the relationship between relevant biomarkers and the degree of SCI and prognosis. Circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) possess microRNA (miRNA) binding sites that can play the role of miRNA sponges and thus participate in the expression of parental gene modification. This study focused on rat SCI models and explore the relationship between circRNAs and SCI at a genomic level. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We first established a rat SCI model and extracted the target spinal cord tissue according to 4 time points. Then investigated the alterations in the circRNA expression by high-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing, analyzed data by gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and constructed the circRNA-miRNA network. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 178 circRNAs were dysregulated (89 upregulated/89 downregulated). Differential circRNAs were found to be mainly involved in the composition of specific organelles in the cytoplasm and are mainly involved in the energy transfer process associated with electron transfer (and similar activities). In all the signaling pathways identified in this study, the MAPK, Wnt, and mTOR signaling pathways are intimately associated with the pathophysiological process of rats post-SCI. In this study, 10 circRNAs with obvious dysregulation were selected for prediction, 26 miRNAs with additional interactions were obtained, and a network diagram of circRNAs-miRNAs was constructed. In this manner, one can understand in further detail the pathogenesis of SCI and to provide new strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of SCI-related injuries at the genetic level.

Author(s):  
Katarina Kiss Bimbova ◽  
Maria Bacova ◽  
Alexandra Kisucka ◽  
Jan Galik ◽  
Peter Zavacky ◽  
...  

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the effects of endurance training on expression of growth factors (GFs) and stimulation of neurotrophin-dependent signaling pathways (PI3k/Akt, PLCγ/PKC, PLCγ/CAMKII, Ras-Erk1/2 and Rac1-Cdc42) responsible for neuroplasticity, neuroregeneration, survival and growth after spinal cord injury (SCI). Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (i) intact controls; (ii) 6 weeks of endurance training; (iii) SCI; (iv) pre-training + SCI. The animals survived for 6 weeks after SCI. Firstly, endurance training markedly upregulated mRNA expression and protein levels (up to four times) of growth factors (BDNF, GDNF) and their receptors (TrkB, Gfrα) in low thoracic segments (Th8–Th10) compared to levels in untrained animals. Secondly, we found that spontaneous neuroplasticity seen in the SCI alone group was GF-specific and was activated through both PLCγ-PKC and PLC-CAMKII signaling pathways. In addition, training prior to SCI markedly increased the activity of PLCγ-PKC signaling at both transcript and protein levels at and around the lesion site. Similar effects were seen in expression of PI3k/Akt and Ras/Erk1/2 signaling responsible for cell survival and regeneration. Thirdly, rats which underwent physical activity prior to SCI were more active and had significantly better neurological scores at the 14th and 42nd days of survival. These results suggest that regular physical activity could play an important role after SCI, as it maintains increased expression of GFs in spinal cord tissue 6 weeks post-SCI. The BDNF- and/or BDNF + GDNF-dependent signaling pathways were significantly affected in pre-trained SCI animals. In contrast, GDNF-dependent Rac1-Cdc42 signaling was not involved in training-affected SCI response.


Author(s):  
Andrew C. Smith ◽  
Denise R. O’Dell ◽  
Wesley A. Thornton ◽  
David Dungan ◽  
Eli Robinson ◽  
...  

Background: Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), widths of ventral tissue bridges demonstrated significant predictive relationships with future pinprick sensory scores, and widths of dorsal tissue bridges demonstrated significant predictive relationships with future light touch sensory scores, following spinal cord injury (SCI). These studies involved smaller participant numbers, and external validation of their findings is warranted. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate these previous findings using a larger independent data set. Methods: Widths of ventral and dorsal tissue bridges were quantified using MRI in persons post cervical level SCI (average 3.7 weeks post injury), and pinprick and light touch sensory scores were acquired at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (average 14.3 weeks post injury). Pearson product-moments were calculated and linear regression models were created from these data. Results: Wider ventral tissue bridges were significantly correlated with pinprick scores (r = 0.31, p &lt; 0.001, N = 136) and wider dorsal tissue bridges were significantly correlated with light touch scores (r = 0.31, p &lt; 0.001, N = 136) at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusion: This retrospective study’s results provide external validation of previous findings, using a larger sample size. Following SCI, ventral tissue bridges hold significant predictive relationships with future pinprick sensory scores and dorsal tissue bridges hold significant predictive relationships with future light touch sensory scores.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2565-2566
Author(s):  
Daniela Popova ◽  
Mariela Filipova

Spinal stroke is a disease that is rare in neurological practice. Affects young people, mostly at the age of 30 years [2]. It may be ischemic or haemorrhagic. Etiological, ischemic spinal stroke is caused by atherosclerosis of the aorta and blood vessels of the spinal cord, muscle spasm, vasculitis, pregnancy, hemangioma or hernia [3, 4]. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by dysplasia, tumors and blood diseases involving increased bleeding [1]. Spinal infarction most commonly develops in the basal spinal artery pool, which is responsible for the blood supply of the anterior 2/3 of the spinal cord tissue. Often, the disease starts with a sudden back pain with an enigmatic nature (in the area of the thoracic segment - Th 8), a gradually occurring weakness in the limbs and hypestesia, pelvic-tangle disorders [5]. The gait is very difficult to impossible.Purpose of the study: To test neurological tests in patients with spinal ischemic spinal cord injury. Assess their accessibility and reliability.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virany H. Hillard ◽  
Hong Peng ◽  
Kaushik Das ◽  
Raj Murali ◽  
Chitti R. Moorthy ◽  
...  

Object Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), the nitroxide antioxidant tempol, and x-irradiation have been used to promote locomotor recovery in experimental models of spinal cord injury. The authors used x-irradiation of the injury site together with either HBO or tempol to determine whether combined therapy offers greater benefit to rats. Methods Contusion injury was produced with a weight-drop device in rats at the T-10 level, and recovery was determined using the 21-point Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale. Locomotor function recovered progressively during the 6-week postinjury observation period and was significantly greater after x-irradiation (20 Gy) of the injury site or treatment with tempol (275 mg/kg intraperitoneally) than in untreated rats (final BBB Scores 10.6 [x-irradiation treated] and 9.1 [tempol treated] compared with 6.4 [untreated], p < 0.05). Recovery was not significantly improved by HBO (2 atm for 1 hour [BBB Score 8.2, p > 0.05]). Interestingly, the improved recovery of locomotor function after x-irradiation, in contrast with antiproliferative radiotherapy for neoplasia, was inhibited when used together with either HBO or tempol (BBB Scores 8.2 and 8.3, respectively). The ability of tempol to block enhanced locomotor recovery by x-irradiation was accompanied by prevention of alopecia at the irradiation site. The extent of locomotor recovery following treatment with tempol, HBO, and x-irradiation correlated with measurements of spared spinal cord tissue at the contusion epicenter. Conclusions These results suggest that these treatments, when used alone, can activate neuroprotective mechanisms but, in combination, may result in neurotoxicity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (sup1) ◽  
pp. 186-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Gabison ◽  
Sunita Mathur ◽  
Ethne L. Nussbaum ◽  
Milos R. Popovic ◽  
Mary C. Verrier

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