title: The Role of microRNA Markers in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome Prediction of Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that affects many people worldwide. Treatment focuses on controlling secondary injury cascade and improving regeneration. It has recently been suggested that both the secondary injury cascade and the regenerative process are heavily regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). The measurement of specific biomarkers could improve our understanding of the disease processes, and thereby provide clinicians with the opportunity to guide treatment and predict clinical outcomes after SCI. A variety of miRNAs exhibit important roles in processes of inflammation, cell death, and regeneration. These miRNAs can be used as diagnostic tools for predicting outcome after SCI. In addition, miRNAs can be used in the treatment of SCI and its symptoms. Significant laboratory and clinical evidence exist to show that miRNAs could be used as robust diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the treatment of patients with SCI. Further clinical studies are warranted to clarify the importance of each subtype of miRNA in SCI management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Division of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Nikolay L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Martirosyan
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine - Phoenix, University of Arizona , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine - Phoenix, University of Arizona , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Arpan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: M Yashar S
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kalani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagmurlu
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: G Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lemole
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Preul
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center , Phoenix, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theodore
keywords: biomarker; gene expression; miRNA; microRNA; regeneration; spinal cord injury