Neurospine.  2022 Sep;19(3):757-769. 10.14245/ns.2244452.226.

Transcription Profiling of a Revealed the Potential Molecular Mechanism of Governor Vessel Electroacupuncture for Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
  • 2Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
  • 3Guangzhou Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • 4Medical Research Center, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Science, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
  • 5Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
  • 6Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
  • 7Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong , China

Abstract


Objective
This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by transcriptome analysis to elucidate a potential mechanism by which governor vessel electroacupuncture (GV-EA) promotes neuronal survival, axonal regeneration, and functional recovery after complete transection spinal cord injury (SCI).
Methods
Sham, control, or GV-EA group adult female Sprague Dawley rats underwent a complete transection SCI protocol. SCI area RNA-seq investigated the DEGs of coding and noncoding RNAs 7 days post-SCI. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to classify DEGs functions, to explain a possible molecular mechanism. Immunofluorescence and BBB (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan) score were used to verify a GV-EA treatment effect following SCI.
Results
GV-EA treatment could regulate the expression of 173 mRNA, 260 lncRNA, and 153 circRNA genes among these DEGs resulted by SCI. GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were most enriched in membrane, actin binding, and regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. KEGG pathway analysis showed enriched pathways (e.g. , Toll-like receptors, MAPK, Hippo signaling). According to the ceRNA network, miR-144-3p played a regulatory role by interacting with lncRNA and circRNA. GV-EA also promoted the injured spinal cord neuron survival, axonal regeneration, and functional improvement of hind limb locomotion.
Conclusion
Results of our RNA-seq suggest that post-SCI GV-EA may regulate characteristic changes in transcriptome gene expression, potential critical genes, and signaling pathways, providing clear directions for further investigation into the mechanism of GV-EA in subacute SCI treatment. Moreover, we found that GV-EA promotes neuronal survival, nerve fiber extension, and motor function recovery in subacute SCI.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; Governor vessel electroacupuncture; RNA sequencing; Bioinformatic analysis; CeRNA
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