MicroRNAs in spinal cord injury: A narrative review

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a global medical problem with high disability and mortality rates. At present, the diagnosis and treatment of SCI are still lacking. Spinal cord injury has a complex etiology, lack of diagnostic methods, poor treatment effect and other problems, which lead to the difficulty of spinal cord regeneration and repair, and poor functional recovery. Recent studies have shown that gene expression plays an important role in the regulation of SCI repair. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that target mRNA expression in order to silence, translate, or interfere with protein synthesis. Secondary damage, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation, occurs after SCI, and differentially expressed miRNAs contribute to these events. This article reviews the pathophysiological mechanism of miRNAs in secondary injury after SCI, focusing on the mechanism of miRNAs in secondary neuroinflammation after SCI, so as to provide new ideas and basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of miRNAs in SCI. The mechanisms of miRNAs in neurological diseases may also make them potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for spinal cord injuries.

Impact of inflammation and Treg cell regulation on neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury: mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

“…In addition, some studies have reported that by regulating the TUG1/miR-214/HSP27 signaling pathway, the proportion of Treg cells can be reduced, thereby alleviating acute SCI (125). Treg cells can also regulate neuroendocrine circuits by inhibiting cytokine secretion and release; therefore, regulating neuronal activity Janyga et al, 2023 1 . Treg cells downregulate TNF-a and IL-6 expression in microglia by inhibiting STAT3 pathway activation, which ultimately improves the damaged spinal cord microenvironment and promotes the recovery of neurological function after SCI (126).…”

“…Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when there is injury or damage to the spinal cord due to an external force that may result in neurological dysfunction. This injury can affect, to varying degrees, the sensory, motor, and autonomic functions of the body ( 1 ). Such injuries result in severe deterioration in the quality of life of patients and increase disability and mortality rates for spinal cord injuries ( 2 , 3 ).…”

Spinal Cord Injury Management Based on Microglia-Targeting Therapies

“…Examples include miR-873a-5p, which inhibits inflammation and enhances anti-inflammatory cytokine release, and miR-133b and miR-124, which reduce proinflammatory factors and inflammation in neurodegenerative conditions [86]. Other miRNAs, such as miR-100, miR-183, miR-23b, miR-34a, miR-150, miR-27a, miR-340-5p, miR-193a, miR-429, and miR-223-5p, also show potential in attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis post-SCI [87]. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of miRNA modulation in SCI treatment.…”

Research hotspots and trends of microRNAs in spinal cord injury: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

“…As key regulatory factors of transcriptional gene expression changes in nervous system diseases, miRNAs have been widely concerned and studied by researchers ( 9 ). During SCI development, miRNA regulates neuronal plasticity, degeneration, axon regeneration, and myelin regeneration by changing gene expression ( 10 , 11 ). Research shows miR-940 decreases after SCI, and miR-940 overexpression inhibits inflammation and promotes functional recovery ( 12 ).…”