Lentiviral vector delivery of short hairpin RNA to NgR1 promotes nerve regeneration and locomotor recovery in injured rat spinal cord

This study investigates the potential of lentiviral vectors carrying NgR1 shRNA (LV-NgR1 shRNA) to promote neurogenesis in spinal cord injury (SCI). Rats were divided into three groups: LV-NgR1 shRNA injection (LN), LV-control shRNA injection (LC), and Sham (laminectomy only). The results showed that animals receiving LV-NgR1 shRNA demonstrated remarkably improved motor function, increased levels of nerve fibers, synapses, and myelination, and decreased levels of lesion cavity and cell apoptosis at 8 weeks post-treatment. The findings suggest that NgR1 may be a promising target for SCI treatment, as blocking its effects leads to improved nerve function and more sprouting axons in treated animals.

• 1
  Rats treated with LV-NgR1 shRNA showed significantly elevated BBB scores from 6 to 8 weeks after SCI, indicating improved motor function compared to the control group.
• 2
  The LN group had significantly smaller areas of cavities within 3 mm rostral and caudal to the lesion site compared to the LC group, demonstrating better tissue repair.
• 3
  NgR1 expression was significantly reduced in the LN group compared with LC and Sham groups, indicating that the lentiviral vector effectively silenced the target gene.