title: MicroRNA-9 controls apoptosis of neurons by targeting monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 expression in rat acute spinal cord injury model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For the purpose of an early identification of intervention targets for acute spinal cord injury (ASCI), we investigated the changes in expression levels of microRNA-9 (miR-9) and MCPIP1 in rat ASCI model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 healthy rats were randomly divided into non-ASCI group (n=18) and five ASCI groups, 6h, 12h, 24h, 3 days and 7 days, representing the experimental time points following ASCI (n=18 per group). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess the ASCI damage, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were employed for the detection of miR-9 and MCPIP1 mRNA expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HE staining results showed normal neuronal morphology in the non-ASCI group, but spinal cord tissue at 6h after ASCI showed developing neuronal necrosis. Acute inflammatory response was evident at 12h and 24h, with immune cells infiltrating into the gray matter. Vascular permeability increased and the nerve cells in gray-white matter exhibited extensive damage and necrosis at 24h and 7 days after ASCI. MiR-9 expression in ASCI tissue was significantly lower than that in normal spinal cord tissue. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in miR-9 expression in all the ASCI groups, compared to the non-ASCI group. Results from real-time PCR analysis revealed that MCPIP1 expression in all the ASCI groups was significantly higher than the non-ASCI group, and MCPIP1 expressions gradually increased with times at 6h-24h after ASCI. ISH revealed the following results after ASCI (1) miR-9 and MCPIP1 mRNA expression mainly distributed in ventral horn motor neurons, (2) miR-9 expression was high at 7 day after ASCI and (3) in the non-ASCI group, MCPIP1 expression was high at 6h, 12h, 24h and 3 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCPIP1 is significantly up-regulated after ASCI. The negative relationship between MCPIP1 and miR-9 suggest that MCPIP1 mRNA could be a target of miR-9 during ASCI. Thus, miR-9 is a marker for apoptosis in neurons, and an excellent therapeutic target for ASCI patients.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Traumatology and Orthopedics Research Institute, Shanghai 200020, China; Department of Traumatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine, Shanghai 200025, China. Electronic address: xuyong_rjh@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Yan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Traumatology and Orthopedics Research Institute, Shanghai 200020, China; Department of Traumatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Traumatology and Orthopedics Research Institute, Shanghai 200020, China; Department of Traumatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medcine, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Fei-Yue
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; C582333:MIRN9 microRNA, rat; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Acute spinal cord injury; MicroRNA-9; Monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1