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Neural Stem Cell Transplantation in Experimental Contusive Model of Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: December 17, 2014
Spatiotemporal patterns and essential role of MSK1 expression after rat spinal cord injury
Zhen Li1, Li Zhao, Huayun Hang
1Department of Neurosurgery, Taian Central Hospital, Taian, 271000, People's Republic of China, lizhen840320@163.com.
Abstract:
Mitogen and stress activated protein kinase (MSK1) protein was initially identified as a particularly interesting protein of mitogen activated protein kinase. It was reported to enhance Bad's phosphorylation to protect cell death, suggesting that MSK1 represents a new type of anti-cell death gene. Moreover, recent study has shown that MSK1 is involved in negative feedback pathways that are crucial to prevent uncontrolled inflammation. However, its function and expression in the central nervous system lesion are not been understood very well. In this study, we performed an acute spinal cord injury (SCI) model in adult rats and studied the dynamic changes of MSK1 expression in spinal cord. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that MSK1 was present in normal spinal cord. It gradually decreased, reached a peak at 3 days after SCI, and then increased during the following days. Immunofluorescence double labeling revealed that MSK1 was co-expressed with NeuN and GFAP, respectively. Interesting, after injury, MSK1 expression was decreased predominantly in astrocytes, which highly expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a marker for proliferating cells. In conclusion, this is the first description of MSK1 expression in spinal cord. Our data suggested that MSK1 might play important roles in CNS pathophysiology after SCI.
Insights
Mitogen and stress activated protein kinase (MSK1) expression changes after spinal cord injury (SCI). MSK1 levels initially decrease then peak around 3 days post-injury, suggesting a role in CNS pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mitogen and stress activated protein kinase (MSK1) is a protein kinase involved in cell death protection and inflammation regulation.
- The role and expression patterns of MSK1 in the central nervous system (CNS) following injury remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in MSK1 expression in the spinal cord after acute spinal cord injury (SCI).
- To identify the cell types expressing MSK1 in the injured spinal cord.
Main Methods:
- Adult rat model of acute SCI.
- Western blot analysis to quantify MSK1 protein levels.
- Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double labeling to determine MSK1 localization and co-expression with neuronal (NeuN) and glial (GFAP) markers.
Main Results:
- MSK1 is expressed in the normal spinal cord.
- Following SCI, MSK1 expression initially decreased, peaked at 3 days post-injury, and subsequently increased.
- MSK1 was co-expressed with NeuN and GFAP.
- Post-injury, MSK1 expression decreased in astrocytes that also expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first description of MSK1 expression dynamics in the spinal cord after SCI.
- MSK1 expression changes suggest a potential role in the pathophysiology of the CNS following spinal cord injury, particularly involving astrocytes.
