title: Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for evaluating the severity of acute spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  An in vivo study in mouse models of spinal cord contusion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a novel indicator to anticipate the severity of spinal cord injury (SCI) during the acute phase and for the assessment of the efficacy of novel therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) circulating in the peripheral blood are reported to modulate signaling between cells, and to be diagnostic markers for cancers. The purpose of this study was to identify circulating miRNAs for predicting the severity of SCI in the acute phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse SCI models were made using Infinite Horizon impactor with 50 or 70 kdyn compressing power following thoracic laminectomy. The mice were then divided into four groups: normal (without surgery), sham (laminectomy only), mild (50 kdyn), and severe (70 kdyn). TaqMan low-density array analysis and real-time PCR were performed to identify candidate miRNAs that were increased in the serum relative to the severity of SCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of miR-9*, miR-219 and miR-384-5p in the serum were significantly increased relative to the severity of SCI 12 h after injury. The expression of miR-9* was also significantly increased relative to injury severity at 3 and 24 h after injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum miR-9*, miR-219 and miR-384-5p might be promising biomarkers for predicting the severity of SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hachisuka
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan [2] Translational Research Medical Center, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ujigo
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Medical Center, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009043:Motor Activity; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger