Elucidation of Gene Expression Patterns in the Brain after Spinal Cord Injury

Cell Transplantation, 2017 · DOI: 10.1177/0963689717715822 · Published: July 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Bioinformatics Brain Injury

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to changes in the brain. This study uses transcriptome analysis to understand how genes in the brain change after SCI in mice. The study looks at the brain at two time points after SCI: an early, acute phase (3 hours post-injury) and a later, subacute phase (2 weeks post-injury). The research identifies pathways in the brain that are affected after SCI, including oxidative phosphorylation, inflammation, and ER stress. This suggests a link between SCI and brain injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

9 mice: sham control (n=3), acute SCI (n=3), and subacute SCI (n=3)

Evidence Level

Level 3; Animal Study

Key Findings

1
At the acute phase after SCI, the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in the brain is affected, indicating impaired energy production.
2
At the subacute phase, inflammatory response pathways and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related pathways are identified in the brain.
3
The study validates gene expression changes using qRT-PCR and Western blot, confirming the reliability of the transcriptome analysis results.

Research Summary

This study investigates gene expression patterns in the brain after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice, focusing on acute (3 hours) and subacute (2 weeks) phases post-injury. Transcriptome analysis reveals that oxidative phosphorylation is affected in the acute phase, while inflammatory responses and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are prominent in the subacute phase. The findings suggest a close association between SCI and brain injury, providing valuable data for understanding the pathophysiological processes in the brain following SCI.

Practical Implications

Understanding Pathophysiological Mechanisms

The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying brain injury following SCI, which may aid in developing targeted therapies.

Identifying Therapeutic Targets

The differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways identified in this study can serve as potential therapeutic targets for mitigating brain injury after SCI.

Developing Molecular Markers

Individual genes involved in enriched KEGG pathways could be considered as reliable molecular markers in the brain after cell-based therapy in SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The study is limited to a mouse model, and the findings may not directly translate to humans.
2
The study focuses on only two time points (acute and subacute), and further investigation is needed to understand the chronic effects of SCI on the brain.
3
The specific mechanisms by which SCI leads to the observed gene expression changes in the brain remain to be fully elucidated.

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