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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
A Contusion Model of Severe Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Published on: August 17, 2013
The Expression of CUGBP1 After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Longfei Yang1, Jinlong Zhang, Jiajia Chen
1Department of Spine Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
CUG-binding protein 1, a member of the CELF (CUGBP and embryonic lethal abnormal vision-like factor) family of RNA-binding proteins, is shown to be multifunctional, regulating many posttranscriptional processes including alternative splicing, deadenylation, mRNA decay, and translation. Recently, CUGBP1 is found to represses p27 IRES activity and inhibits expression of endogenous p27 in cultured breast cancer cells. However, the roles of CUGBP1 in central nervous system injury remain unknown. In our study, we performed acute spinal cord injury (SCI) model in adult rats in order to research the expression changes of CUGBP1 in spinal cord. Western blot analysis showed a marked upregulation of CUGBP1 after SCI. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a wide distribution of CUGBP1 in the spinal cord. Double immunofluorescence staining indicated that CUGBP1 immunoreactivity was increased predominantly in neurons and astrocytes after SCI. Moreover, colocalization of CUGBP1/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected in GFAP positive cells. We also examined the expression profiles of p27, which was up-regulated after SCI. To further understand whether CUGBP1 plays a role in astrocyte proliferation, we applied LPS to induce astrocyte proliferation in vitro. Western blot analysis demonstrated that CUGBP1 expression was positively correlated with PCNA expression, and the p27 expression was negatively correlated with CUGBP1 expression following LPS stimulation. Our results suggest that CUGBP1 might be implicated in the pathophysiology of spinal cord after SCI.
Insights
CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) is upregulated after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, potentially playing a role in central nervous system injury pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) is an RNA-binding protein regulating posttranscriptional processes.
- CUGBP1's role in central nervous system (CNS) injury is currently unknown.
- Previous studies linked CUGBP1 to p27 repression in breast cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and role of CUGBP1 in the spinal cord following acute spinal cord injury (SCI).
- To explore the relationship between CUGBP1, astrocyte proliferation, and p27 expression in the context of SCI.
Main Methods:
- Established an acute SCI model in adult rats.
- Utilized Western blot and immunohistochemistry to analyze CUGBP1 expression.
- Performed double immunofluorescence staining to identify cell types expressing CUGBP1.
- Used in vitro LPS stimulation to induce astrocyte proliferation and assess CUGBP1/PCNA/p27 correlations.
Main Results:
- CUGBP1 expression was significantly upregulated in the spinal cord after SCI.
- CUGBP1 was detected in neurons and astrocytes, with increased immunoreactivity post-SCI.
- Colocalization of CUGBP1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed in GFAP-positive cells (astrocytes).
- In vitro, CUGBP1 expression correlated positively with PCNA and negatively with p27 following LPS stimulation.
Conclusions:
- CUGBP1 is upregulated in the spinal cord following acute SCI.
- CUGBP1 may be involved in astrocyte proliferation and the overall pathophysiology of spinal cord injury.
