Background
Post-spinal cord injury (SCI) inflammation correlates with neurologic recovery. Through sequencing, we explored the roles of a differentially expressed circRNA in mice after SCI, circGla, on inflammation and recovery of SCI.
Conclusion
Following SCI, downregulation of circGla expression in astrocytes can reduce inflammatory manifestations and stimulate long-term functional recovery in mice through miR-488 and MEKK1.
Methods
The T8-T10 SCI model was established in C57BL6 mice. HE staining and RT-qPCR verified circGla upregulation
Results
Following SCI, the circular RNA circGla levels increased and it existed in the astrocyte cytoplasm. circGla knockdown reduced inflammation and improved neurological recovery in vivo. The correlation between circGla and proinflammatory factors was confirmed in vitro. circGla bound to miR-488, and the high miR-488 level was associated with the low astrocyte inflammatory state. miR-488 bound to MEKK1 mRNA, and upregulation or knockdown of circGla or miR-488 affected MAPK pathway-related protein expression.