Circular RNA Expression Alteration and Bioinformatics Analysis in Rats After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is mostly caused by trauma, leading to primary mechanical injury and secondary injury. The study focuses on the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of SCI-induced secondary injury to find promising treatments. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with various diseases, but their functional roles in traumatic SCI are undetermined. This study examined circRNA expression profiles in the contused spinal cords of rats. Microarray and qRT-PCR were used to examine circRNA expression, and bioinformatics was used to predict their potential roles in post-SCI pathophysiology. The study aims to provide insights for SCI treatment by regulating circRNAs.

• 1
  A total of 1676 differentially expressed circRNAs were found in spinal cord 3 days after contusion. 1261 circRNAs were significantly downregulated, whereas the remaining 415 were significantly upregulated.
• 2
  Five selected circRNAs (rno_circRNA_005342, rno_circRNA_015513, rno_circRNA_002948, rno_circRNA_006096, and rno_circRNA_013017) were all significantly downregulated in the SCI group, demonstrating a similar expression pattern in both microarray and PCR data.
• 3
  Bioinformatics analyses indicated carbohydrate metabolic process as one of the most significant enrichments, and the top two signaling pathways affected were the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the peroxisome related pathway.