Downregulation of High mobility group box 2 relieves spinal cord injury by inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition that can lead to sensory and motor problems. This study investigates the role of a protein called High mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) in SCI. The researchers found that HMGB2 levels increase after SCI in rats. They then used a technique to reduce HMGB2 levels and observed that this reduction lessened inflammation and nerve cell loss after spinal cord injury. These findings suggest that lowering HMGB2 levels could be a potential treatment strategy for SCI by reducing inflammation and protecting nerve cells.

• 1
  HMGB2 expression is elevated in the spinal cord tissues of rats following SCI, particularly at day 3 after injury.
• 2
  Knockdown of HMGB2 improved neuronal survival and motor function in rats with SCI, as evidenced by increased BBB scores and NeuN expression.
• 3
  Downregulation of HMGB2 inhibited SCI-induced neuroinflammation by reducing microglial activation and expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6).