title: Role of MK2 signaling pathway in the chronic compression of cervical spinal cord.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, chronic compression of cervical spinal cord was introduced into twy/twy mice and the role of MK2 signaling pathway was investigated in this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  twy/twy mice aged 6-24 weeks were used and the inflammatory response in the cervical spinal cord was observed. The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were used as controls. MK2 inhibitor (PF-3644022, 30 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically to twy/twy mice. The motor behavior was firstly observed in these three groups by Catwalk gait analysis. And the cervical spinal cord between C2 and C3 of vertebral segments was analyzed by MRI and Western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stride length of paws and interlimb coordination reduced in twy/twy mice. However, at 4 weeks after PF-3644022 treatment, a marked improvement was observed in the motor function. The expressions of inflammation related factors (such as IL-1β, NF-κB, TNF-α, MK2 and p-MK2) and apoptosis related proteins (such as cleaved caspase-8 and bax/bcl-2) in the spinal cord of twy/twy mice significantly increased as compared to controls, but 4-week treatment with PF-3644022 markedly reduced the expressions of these factors and apoptotic proteins in the cervical spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MK2 signaling pathway is involved in the chronic compression induced inflammation of the cervical spinal cord. Thus, to inhibit the MK2 pathway may used to improve the outcome and prevent the deterioration of neurological dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, The Ninth Clinical Medical College of Peking University Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Hongxing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, The Ninth Clinical Medical College of Peking University Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Xiutong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Mingjie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, The Ninth Clinical Medical College of Peking University Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, 100021, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, The Ninth Clinical Medical College of Peking University Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Chenli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, The Ninth Clinical Medical College of Peking University Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Zhenwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Cervical spinal cord; chronic compression; inflammation; mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2