Fidgetin-like 2 knockdown increases acute neuroinflammation and improves recovery in a rat model of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to permanent dysfunction due to neuroinflammatory processes. This study investigates Fidgetin-like 2 (FL2), an enzyme that regulates axon growth and microglial functions, as a potential therapeutic target for SCI. The researchers hypothesized that reducing FL2 levels using nanoparticle-encapsulated FL2 siRNA would increase acute neuroinflammation and improve recovery after SCI in rats. They examined the effects of this treatment after a moderate contusion SCI. The study found that SCI increased FL2 expression, and FL2 siRNA treatment led to improved locomotor recovery, reduced inflammation, and increased presence of oligodendrocytes. Targeting FL2 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating SCI.

• 1
  SCI significantly increased FL2 expression in the lesion site and rostral to the lesion at 1 day post-injury.
• 2
  FL2 siRNA treatment after injury led to modestly improved locomotor recovery, preservation of corticospinal tract function, reduced inflammation, and increased oligodendrocytes.
• 3
  FL2 downregulation resulted in a marked accumulation of microglia at the lesion site, accompanied by increased inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TGF-β1, and CD68).