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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2023; 84(03): 240-246
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743552
Original Article

Effects of Methylprednisolone in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries by Evaluation of microRNA-21: An Experimental Study

Anas Abdallah 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Osmaniye State Hospital, Merkez–Osmaniye, Turkey
,
Abdurrahim Tekin 
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medipol University, Çamlıca Hospital, Üsküdar–Istanbul, Turkey
,
Mustafa Namik Oztanir 
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Seda Süsgün 
4   Department of Medical Biology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Ayşegül Yabacı 
5   Department of Biostatistics, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
İrfan Çınar 
6   Department of Neurosurgery, Aile Hospital, Bahçelievler–Istanbul, Turkey
,
Engin Can 
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Sadık Tokar 
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Fahri Akbaş 
4   Department of Medical Biology, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Mehmet Hakan Seyithanoğlu 
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Abstract

Background and Study Aims Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most complicated pathologies that affect active young males. miR-21 primarily regulates several cellular processes. We aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of miR-21 and test methylprednisolone as a disease-modifying agent on experimental SCI tissues.

Methods A total of 36 8- to 10-week-old adult female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 g were used. Animals were randomly divided into six groups. Except for groups 1 and 4, the spinal trauma model was applied to all animal groups using the clipping method. In groups 3 and 6, methylprednisolone was given. For real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) investigations, rats in groups 1, 2, and 3 were reoperated on after the first postoperative day, whereas those in groups 4, 5, and 6 were reoperated on after postoperative day 7 and spinal cord samples from the laminectomy area were removed for gene expression analysis. Relative gene expression of miR-21, Gfap, Vim, Stat3, Faslg, Pten, Bax, Bcl2, Cox2, and Il6 were determined with quantitative reverse transcription (qRT) PCR.

Results In group 3, the miR-21 expression significantly increased compared with groups 1 and 2. When compared with group 3, a decrease in miR-21 expression was observed in group 6 (p < 0.05). When compared with group 4, group 6 had lower levels of Gfap, Pten, Stat3, and Bax (p < 0.05).

Conclusions miR-21 supports the beneficial aspects of the body's healing mechanisms following SCI. In the acute phase, the use of methylprednisolone increases miR-21 expression in the early period of trauma. Methylprednisolone increases some astrogliosis and inflammation biomarkers' levels; however, it did not affect the apoptotic biomarkers.

Keywords

spinal cord injury - miR-21 - methylprednisolone - real-time PCR

Author Contribution

Anas Abdallah** was responsible for conceptualization, methodology, software, supervision, formal analysis, statistical analysis, literature review, visualization, investigation, writing of the original draft and review of the draft, and validation. Abdurrahim Tekin** was responsible for conceptualization, supervision, methodology, literature review, writing and reviewing, visualization, investigation, and formal analysis of the manuscript. Mustafa Namik Oztanir and Seda Süsgün were responsible for validation and methodology. Seda Süsgün also participated in the investigation. Ayşegül Yabacı was responsible for statistical analysis. İrfan Çınar was responsible for validation, formal analysis, and literature review. Engin Can and Sadık Tokar participated in the validation of the study. Fahri Akbaş was also responsible for the methodology of the study. Mehmet Hakan Seyithanoğlu was responsible for supervision of the study.


**Drs. Tekin and Abdallah contributed equally in this work. Both of co-authors deserve the first name.




Publication History

Received: 23 March 2021

Accepted: 15 September 2021

Article published online:
19 April 2022

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