MiR-31 improves spinal cord injury in mice by promoting the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

This study investigates the potential of miR-31, a small RNA molecule, to enhance the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) towards spinal cord injuries in mice. Stem cell transplantation is a promising therapy for spinal cord injuries, but its effectiveness is limited by the poor migration of transplanted cells to the injury site. The researchers found that miR-31 promotes the proliferation and migration of BMSCs in vitro (in cell cultures). They also observed that miR-31 upregulates the expression of proteins called CXCR4 and MMP-2, which are known to play a role in cell migration. In vivo (in living mice) experiments confirmed that miR-31 enhances the migration of BMSCs to the injured spinal cord, reduces inflammation, and improves functional recovery. These findings suggest that miR-31 could be a valuable tool for improving stem cell-based therapies for spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  MiR-31 promotes the proliferation of BMSCs in vitro, as demonstrated by CCK-8 and Cell-cycle assays.
• 2
  MiR-31 enhances the migration of BMSCs in vitro, as evidenced by wound-healing and transwell assays.
• 3
  In vivo experiments showed that miR-31agomir group showed enhanced cell-targeted migration ability (P<0.001), improved the function of damaged tissues (P<0.001), and upregulated CXCR4 and MMP-2 expression compared to the control group (P<0.001).