Ann Rehabil Med.  2019 Jun;43(3):328-334. 10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.328.

The Value of MicroRNAs as an Indicator of the Severity and the Acute Phase of Spinal Cord Injury

• Park J
• Yi D
• Jang J
• Hong J

• KMID: 2453923
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.328

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 in a balloon-compression model of spinal cord injury (SCI).
METHODS
A total of 50 male Wistar rats (n=50) were divided into the three groups: the group A (n=15, insertion of the unflated Fogarty balloon catheter), the group B (n=15, insertion of the Fogarty balloon catheter at a volume of 20 μL) and the group C (n=15, insertion of the Fogarty balloon catheter at a volume of 50 μL). After the behavioral test, RNA isolation, microRNA expression profiling using microarrays and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, measurements were compared between the three groups.
RESULTS
Despite a lack of significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-21 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours, there were significant differences in them at 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-223 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours and 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Furthermore, miRNA-223 expression levels reached the highest at 1 day but were decreased with time thereafter in all the three groups.
CONCLUSION
Expression levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 might be associated with the severity and acute phase of SCI, respectively. It is mandatory, however, to analyze changes in levels of inflammatory markers and the relevant biological pathways.

Keyword

Spinal cord; Spinal cord injuries; MicroRNAs; Gene expression regulation; Therapeutics

MeSH Terms

Behavior Rating Scale
Catheters
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Male
MicroRNAs*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rats, Wistar
RNA
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*
MicroRNAs
RNA

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Time-dependent changes in the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores. There were significant timedependent increases in the BBB scores in both the group B and C (p<0.05). Different letters indicate statistical significance (p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2. Time-dependent changes in the level of miRNA-21 expression. Despite a lack of significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-21 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours, there were significant differences in them at 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Different letters indicate statistical significance (p<0.05). The y-axis represents 2-ΔΔCt (Ct, threshold cycle).

• 

  Fig. 3. Time-dependent changes in the level of miRNA-223 expression. There were significant differences in time-dependent changes in miRNA-223 expression levels between the three groups at 4 hours and 1, 3, and 7 days (p<0.05). Moreover, miRNA-223 expression levels reached the highest at 1 day but were decreased with time thereafter in all the three groups. Different letters indicate statistical significance (p<0.05). The y-axis represents 2-ΔΔCt (Ct, threshold cycle).

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