MicroRNAs as potential therapeutics for treating spinal cord injury

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and play roles in biological processes. After spinal cord injury (SCI), miRNA expression levels change, suggesting their involvement in inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, glial scar formation, and axonal regeneration. Because of their small size and specificity, miRNAs could be potential therapeutics for treating SCI. Techniques are being developed to manipulate miRNA levels in animals for clinical use. Effective therapy for SCI patients is lacking. Manipulating miRNA levels as a means of gene therapy has certain advantages. First, miRNAs are only about 22-nt long; they diffuse into tissues and are absorbed by cells relatively easily compared with DNA plasmid constructs.

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  Expression levels of numerous miRNAs change after SCI, indicating that miRNAs may play significant roles in responding to injury.
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  MiR-223, found in invading neutrophils near the injury site, might regulate the secretion of inflammatory factors.
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  Elevated levels of miR-133b in the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle of zebrafish are essential for their locomotor recovery and axonal regeneration.