Title:Homeodomain Interacting Protein Kinase 2-Modified Rat Spinal
Astrocytes Affect Neurofunctional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Renbo Li, Jian Han, Bo Chen and Jingbo Shang*
Affiliation:
- Spinal and Trauma’s Ward, The 3rd People Hospital of Dalian, Dalian 116000, China
Keywords:
Spinal cord injury, astrocytes, HIPK2, neurofunctional recovery, Nrf2/ARE pathway, gene modification.
Abstract:
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is regarded as an acute neurological disorder, and
astrocytes play a role in the progression of SCI.
Objective: Herein, we investigated the roles of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2)-
modified rat spinal astrocytes in neurofunctional recovery after SCI.
Methods: Rat spinal astrocytes were cultured, isolated, and then identified through microscopic
observation and immunofluorescence staining. Astrocytes were infected with the adenovirus vector
overexpressing HIPK2 for modification, and proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytes were examined
using Cell Counting Kit-8 method and flow cytometry. SCI rat models were established and
treated with astrocytes or HIPK2-modified astrocytes. Subsequently, rat motor ability was analyzed
via the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scoring and inclined-plane test, and the damage to spinal
cord tissues and neuronal survival were observed via Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining.
The levels of HIPK2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic
factor (GDNF), interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-
related transcription factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway-related proteins
were detected.
Results: Rat spinal astrocytes were harvested successfully. HIPK2 overexpression accelerated the
proliferation and repressed the apoptosis of rat spinal astrocytes. Rat spinal astrocytes treatment
increased BBB points and the maximum angle at which SCI rats remained stable, ameliorated damage
to spinal cord tissues, increased the number of neurons, and attenuated neural damage and inflammation,
while the treatment of HIPK2-modified rat spinal astrocytes imparted more pronounced
effects to the neurofunctional recovery of SCI rats. Meanwhile, HIPK2-modified rat spinal astrocytes
further activated the Nrf2/ARE pathway.
Conclusion: HIPK2-modified rat spinal astrocytes facilitated neurofunctional recovery and activated
the Nrf2/ARE pathway after SCI.