Transcriptome profile analysis in spinal cord injury rats with transplantation of menstrual blood-derived stem cells

Abstract

IntroductionMenstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) are vital in treating many degenerative and traumatic disorders. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure in MenSCs-treating spinal cord injury (SCI) rats.MethodsMenSCs were adopted into the injured sites of rat spinal cords at day 7 post surgery and the tissues were harvested for total RNA sequencing analysis at day 21 after surgery to investigate the expression patterns of RNAs. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed with volcano and heatmap plot. DEGs were sequentially analyzed by weighted gene co-expression network, functional enrichment, and competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network analysis. Next, expression of selected miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs and mRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics packages and extra databases were enrolled to scoop the genes functions and their interaction relationships.ResultsA total of 89 lncRNAs, 65 circRNAs, 120 miRNAs and 422 mRNAs were significantly upregulated and 65 lncRNAs, 72 circRNAs, 74 miRNAs, and 190 mRNAs were significantly downregulated in the MenSCs treated rats compared to SCI ones. Current investigation revealed that MenSCs treatment improve the recovery of the injured rats and the most significantly involved pathways in SCI regeneration were cell adhesion molecules, nature killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, primary immunodeficiency, chemokine signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway and B cell receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network of SCI was constructed. Finally, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the top 100 DE mRNAs. The constructed PPI network included 47 nodes and 70 edges.DiscussionIn summary, the above results revealed the expression profile and potential functions of differentially expressed (DE) RNAs in the injured spinal cords of rats in the MenSCs-treated and SCI groups, and this study may provide new clues to understand the mechanisms of MenSCs in treating SCI.

Research progress on long non‑coding RNAs in non‑infectious spinal diseases (Review)

“…Nerve cells have poor regenerative ability and cannot be cured after being damaged; therefore, treatment and rehabilitation after SCI are challenging ( 102 ). Differentially expressed lncRNAs play a regulatory role in SCI, providing new ideas for its treatment ( 103 ). Notably, menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) have important therapeutic effects in degenerative and traumatic diseases, such as premature ovarian failure in mice ( 104 ) and cutaneous wound ( 105 ).…”

“…Compared with SCI rats, rats treated with MenSCs exhibited significant upregulation of 89 lncRNAs and other RNAs, and significant downregulation of 65 lncRNAs and other RNAs. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA networks of SCI indicated that the role of lncRNAs in SCI may be mediated by a large interconnected regulatory network ( 103 ). Liu et al ( 106 ) examined changes in the expression of lncRNAs in the proximal tissue of the T10 layer at different time points during the right hemisection of T10 laminectomy.…”