Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Sep 2024)

miR-NPs-RVG promote spinal cord injury repair: implications from spinal cord-derived microvascular endothelial cells

  • Chao Li,
  • Zhenyang Xiang,
  • Mengfan Hou,
  • Hao Yu,
  • Peng Peng,
  • Yigang Lv,
  • Chao Ma,
  • Han Ding,
  • Yunpeng Jiang,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Hengxing Zhou,
  • Shiqing Feng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-024-02797-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to a loss of motor and sensory function. Axon regeneration and outgrowth are key events for functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Endogenous growth of axons is associated with a variety of factors. Inspired by the relationship between developing nerves and blood vessels, we believe spinal cord-derived microvascular endothelial cells (SCMECs) play an important role in axon growth. Results We found SCMECs could promote axon growth when co-cultured with neurons in direct and indirect co-culture systems via downregulating the miR-323-5p expression of neurons. In rats with spinal cord injury, neuron-targeting nanoparticles were employed to regulate miR-323-5p expression in residual neurons and promote function recovery. Conclusions Our study suggests that SCMEC can promote axon outgrowth by downregulating miR-323-5p expression within neurons, and miR-323-5p could be selected as a potential target for spinal cord injury repair. Graphical Abstract

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