MicroRNA‑124 improves functional recovery and suppresses Bax‑dependent apoptosis in rats following spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression, causing inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. This study investigates how miRNA-related apoptosis occurs after SCI. The study found that miR-124, a specific miRNA, was significantly reduced after SCI in rats. Overexpression of miR-124 improved functional recovery, decreased lesion size, and suppressed neuronal cell apoptosis. Further analysis showed that miR-124 inhibits the expression of a protein called BAX, which is involved in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. By blocking BAX, miR-124 may prevent cell death and improve recovery after SCI.

• 1
  SCI induces dysregulation of miRNA expression, with miR-124 being significantly downregulated in spinal cord tissues.
• 2
  Overexpression of miR-124 improves functional recovery, reduces lesion volume, and suppresses neuronal cell apoptosis in rats following SCI.
• 3
  miR-124 suppresses Bax expression by directly targeting its 3'-UTR in BV-2 cells, suggesting Bax is a target of miR-124 in spinal cord tissues.