Roles of miRNAs in spinal cord injury and potential therapeutic interventions

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects approximately 200,000 individuals per year worldwide, leading to long-term disability. Recent studies suggest the CNS has the ability to repair itself, renewing interest in novel approaches to promote regeneration, including the spinal cord. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key in modulating SCI pathogenesis and could offer clinical interventions to control post-injury symptoms and improve functional recovery. These non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression by degrading target mRNAs, thus negatively controlling their translation. This review focuses on the role of miRNAs in modulating SCI symptoms, highlighting their contribution to molecular processes such as neuroplasticity, functional recovery, astrogliosis, neuropathic pain, inflammation, and apoptosis. MiR-96 is identified as a promising therapeutic opportunity for improving SCI treatment.

• 1
  miRNAs are deregulated after SCI and impact inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, which are crucial for progressive pathogenesis in SCI, suggesting that abnormal miRNA expression may contribute to SCI pathogenesis.
• 2
  Specific miRNAs, such as miR-146a and miR-129–2, are significantly influenced by the severity of the injury, while down-regulation of miRNAs like miR-219 and miR-124 is associated with the death of neural cells.
• 3
  Upregulation of miR-96 may suppress programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) and subsequently decrease apoptosis, contributing to functional neuroprotection in SCI.