The therapeutic potential of microRNAs to ameliorate spinal cord injury by regulating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and remyelination

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury, posing a serious threat to human health and quality of life. One significant characteristic feature of pathological changes following injury in the nervous system is demyelination, which partially contributes to the long-term deficits in neural function after injury. The remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) is mainly mediated by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs).

• 1
  miRNAs can modulate axon outgrowth, inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, astrogliosis, and remyelination after SCI.
• 2
  Administration of miR-219 agomiR in rats after unilateral C5 contusion SCI significantly promoted OPC differentiation, increased OL number, enhanced myelin repair, and partially improved the forelimb motor function
• 3
  miR-125a-3p might hinder the repairment of demyelinating lesions and exacerbate the development of MS by blocking OPC differentiation