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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Combining Peripheral Nerve Grafting and Matrix Modulation to Repair the Injured Rat Spinal Cord
Published on: November 20, 2009
Peripheral nerve lesion induces an up-regulation of Spy1 in rat spinal cord
Ye Huang1, Yonghua Liu, Ying Chen
1Orthopaedics of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 226001, China.
Abstract:
Spy1, as a member of the Speedy/RINGO family and a novel activator of cyclin-dependent kinases, was shown to promote cell cycle progression and cell survival in response to DNA damage. While its expression and roles in nervous system lesion and repair were still unknown. Here, we performed an acute sciatic nerve injury model in adult rats and studied the dynamic changes of Spy1 expression in lumbar spinal cord. Temporally, Spy1 expression was increased shortly after sciatic nerve crush and peaked at day 2. Spatially, Spy1 was widely expressed in the lumbar spinal cord including neurons and glial cells. While after injury, Spy1 expression was increased predominantly in astrocytes and microglia, which were largely proliferated. Moreover, there was a concomitant up-regulation of CDK2 activity and down-regulation of p27. Collectively, we hypothesized peripheral nerve injury induced an up-regulation of Spy1 in lumbar spinal cord, which was associated with glial proliferation.
Insights
Peripheral nerve injury increases Speedy/RINGO-associated protein 1 (Spy1) in the spinal cord, particularly in glial cells, promoting their proliferation and aiding nerve repair.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Spy1 (Speedy/RINGO family) activates cyclin-dependent kinases, promoting cell cycle progression and survival.
- The role and expression of Spy1 in nervous system injury and repair remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in Spy1 expression within the lumbar spinal cord following acute sciatic nerve injury.
- To explore the association between Spy1 expression and glial cell proliferation after peripheral nerve damage.
Main Methods:
- An acute sciatic nerve crush injury model was established in adult rats.
- Dynamic changes in Spy1 expression were analyzed temporally and spatially in the lumbar spinal cord.
- Expression levels in neurons and glial cells (astrocytes, microglia) were examined, alongside CDK2 activity and p27 levels.
Main Results:
- Spy1 expression significantly increased in the lumbar spinal cord shortly after sciatic nerve injury, peaking at day 2.
- Post-injury, Spy1 upregulation was predominantly observed in proliferating astrocytes and microglia.
- A concurrent increase in CDK2 activity and a decrease in p27 levels were noted.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral nerve injury induces a notable upregulation of Spy1 in the lumbar spinal cord.
- The increased Spy1 expression is closely linked to the proliferation of glial cells, suggesting a role in the nerve repair response.