MicroRNA-362-3p attenuates motor deficit following spinal cord injury via targeting paired box gene 2

Abstract

Spinal cord injury is a disabling disorder, leading to neurological impairments. Although some microRNAs have been reported to be associated with spinal cord injury, the function of microRNA-362-3p, as one of downregulated miRNAs after spinal cord injury, is still unclear. In current study, spinal cord injury models were established. Then, we performed microRNA-362-3p overexpression in spinal cord injury rats, which expressed the low microRNA-362-3p. Results from behavioral testing, hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining revealed that microRNA-362-3p over expresssion improved the functional resoration in spinal cord injury rats. Furthermore, it caused the decrease of neuronal apoptosis and inhibition of the neuronal inflammation in these rats. Besides, Paired box gene 2 was verified as a target gene of microRNA-362-3p using luciferase assay, which predicted via bioinformatics technology. Moreover, microRNA-362-3p alleviated the neuralgia and reduced the activation of ERK and p38 through inhibition of Paired box gene 2. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated that microRNA-362-3p attenuated neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury through targeting Paired box gene 2. It provides us the new biomarker to diagnose and monitor spinal cord injury.

Keywords: PAX2; Spinal cord injury; miR-362-3p; neuralgia.