Expression Profile of Flotillin-2 and its Pathophysiological Role after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to the formation of a non-permissive environment that inhibits axonal regeneration and/or cell survival. Many receptors that block axonal regeneration or promote cell death after SCI are localized in membrane rafts. Flotillin-2 (Flot-2) is a protein associated with the formation of these membrane domains and the clustering of membrane proteins. This study investigates how trauma affects Flot-2 expression and whether interfering with this lipid raft marker can improve locomotor recovery after SCI. The findings suggest that Flot-2 plays a role in creating a non-permissive environment that hinders locomotor recovery after SCI by clustering unfavorable proteins in membrane rafts.

• 1
  SCI produced a significant decrease in the level of Flot-2 at 2 days post-injury (DPI) that increased until 28 DPI.
• 2
  Flot-2 expression was found in neurons, reactive astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, specifically associated with myelin structures near or close to the axons of the spinal cord.
• 3
  Locomotor recovery of injured rats infused intrathecally with Flot-2 antisense oligonucleotides for 28 days showed significant behavioral improvement at 14, 21 and 28 DPI.