Inhibition of the Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway Restores Cultured Spinal Cord-Injured Neuronal Migration, Adhesion, and Dendritic Spine Development.
The Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling pathway plays an important role in central and peripheral neurons in functions such as dendritic arborization, neuronal polarity, and axon assembly. However, emerging evidence also shows that up-regulation of this signaling pathway may lead to the development of spinal cord injury. The present study aimed to determine the effects of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling pathway inhibition on properties of spinal cord-injured neurons. First, neurons from spinal cord-injured C57BL/6 J mouse pups and sham-operated C57BL/6 J mouse pups were harvested. Then, immunofluorescence, western blotting, cell adhesion and cell migration assays, and DiI labeling were employed to investigate the effect of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling pathway inhibition on spinal cord-injured neurons. Immunofluorescence results of synapse formation indicated that the experimental spinal cord injury model was successfully established. Western blot results identified upregulated Erk phosphorylation in the spinal cord-injured neurons, and also showed that U0126 inhibited phosphorylation of Erk, which is a downstream kinase in the Ras/Raf signaling pathway. Additionally, cell migration and adhesion was significantly increased in the spinal cord-injured neurons. DiI labeling results also showed an increased formation of mature spines after inhibition of Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling. Taken together, these results suggested that the Ras/Raf/ERK1/2 signaling pathway could serve as an effective treatment target for spinal cord injury.
Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Dongdong
D
Xu
Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Fujiang
F
Cao
Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Shiwei
S
Sun
Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
Tao
T
Liu
Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China. fengsq9@gmail.com.
Shiqing
S
Feng
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D048490:raf Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins
Axonal regeneration; Neuronal cell culture; Phosphorylation-ERK; Ras/Raf/ERk1/2; Spinal cord injury; U0126