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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Cerebrospinal Fluid MicroRNA Profiling Using Quantitative Real Time PCR
Published on: January 22, 2014
Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for evaluating the severity of acute spinal cord injury
S Hachisuka1, N Kamei2, S Ujigo1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Study Design:
An in vivo study in mouse models of spinal cord contusion.
Objectives:
To develop a novel indicator to anticipate the severity of spinal cord injury (SCI) during the acute phase and for the assessment of the efficacy of novel therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) circulating in the peripheral blood are reported to modulate signaling between cells, and to be diagnostic markers for cancers. The purpose of this study was to identify circulating miRNAs for predicting the severity of SCI in the acute phase.
Setting:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Methods:
Mouse SCI models were made using Infinite Horizon impactor with 50 or 70 kdyn compressing power following thoracic laminectomy. The mice were then divided into four groups: normal (without surgery), sham (laminectomy only), mild (50 kdyn), and severe (70 kdyn). TaqMan low-density array analysis and real-time PCR were performed to identify candidate miRNAs that were increased in the serum relative to the severity of SCI.
Results:
The expression levels of miR-9*, miR-219 and miR-384-5p in the serum were significantly increased relative to the severity of SCI 12 h after injury. The expression of miR-9* was also significantly increased relative to injury severity at 3 and 24 h after injury.
Conclusion:
Serum miR-9*, miR-219 and miR-384-5p might be promising biomarkers for predicting the severity of SCI.
Insights
Researchers identified specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in mouse serum that indicate spinal cord injury severity. These circulating miRNAs could serve as early biomarkers for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and potential therapeutic assessments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Molecular biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in intercellular signaling and cancer diagnostics.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is crucial for timely intervention and treatment evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discover novel circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) capable of predicting the severity of acute spinal cord injury (SCI).
- To establish a new indicator for assessing the efficacy of emerging SCI therapies.
Main Methods:
- An in vivo study utilizing mouse models of spinal cord contusion (mild and severe injury).
- Serum samples were analyzed using TaqMan low-density array and real-time PCR to identify differentially expressed miRNAs.
- Mice were grouped into normal, sham, mild (50 kdyn), and severe (70 kdyn) injury categories.
Main Results:
- Serum levels of miR-9*, miR-219, and miR-384-5p were significantly elevated in correlation with SCI severity at 12 hours post-injury.
- miR-9* expression also showed a significant increase relative to injury severity at 3 and 24 hours post-injury.
Conclusions:
- Serum miR-9*, miR-219, and miR-384-5p demonstrate potential as predictive biomarkers for spinal cord injury severity.
- These miRNAs may offer a non-invasive method for early SCI assessment and monitoring therapeutic responses.
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