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PEITC promotes neurite growth in primary sensory neurons via the miR-17-5p/STAT3/GAP-43 axis

Zhijie Wang1, Wenqi Yuan2,3, Bo Li3

  • 1a Department of Pediatric Internal Medicine , Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University , Chengde , Hebei Province , P.R. China.

Journal of Drug Targeting
|June 8, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies miR-17-5p as a key regulator in sciatic nerve injury repair. Inhibiting miR-17-5p or using PEITC promotes nerve regeneration by upregulating STAT3 and GAP-43.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Sciatic nerve conditioning injury enhances dorsal column repair.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial in nerve regeneration.
  • Understanding molecular mechanisms driving repair is vital for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of a specific miRNA in sciatic nerve conditioning injury.
  • To validate the function of miR-17-5p in promoting dorsal column repair.
  • To investigate beta-phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) as a potential therapeutic agent.

Main Methods:

  • Microarray analysis to assess miRNA expression.
  • Inhibition of miR-17-5p in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.
  • Western blot to detect protein expression (STAT3, p-STAT3, GAP-43).
  • Somatosensory evoked potential tests to evaluate functional recovery.

Main Results:

  • miR-17-5p expression decreased significantly after sciatic nerve conditioning injury.
  • Inhibiting miR-17-5p upregulated GAP-43 and enhanced neurite outgrowth.
  • PEITC treatment mimicked the effects of conditioning injury by downregulating miR-17-5p and upregulating STAT3, p-STAT3, and GAP-43.
  • PEITC, miR-17-5p inhibition, and conditioning injury showed similar functional recovery effects.

Conclusions:

  • The miR-17-5p/STAT3/GAP-43 axis is essential for sciatic nerve conditioning injury-induced dorsal column repair.
  • PEITC promotes dorsal column repair by targeting the miR-17-5p/STAT3/GAP-43 pathway.
  • PEITC shows potential as a therapeutic strategy to mimic conditioning injury effects for nerve repair.

Keywords:
GAP-43STAT3Sciatic nerve conditioning injurydorsal column lesionmicroRNAβ-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate

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