Association of Serum lncRNA CASC11 with Injury Severity and Inflammation in Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nervous system trauma. This single-center, observational and in vitro study investigated the diagnostic potential of CASC11 and its possible regulatory mechanism in SCI using clinical serum samples and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cell models. CASC11, miR-130b-5p, and SPP1 levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cellular functions and targeting relationships were assessed via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dual-luciferase reporter, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. CASC11 was highly expressed in SCI and associated with inflammation as a potential diagnostic biomarker. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated PC-12 cells, silencing CASC11 alleviated suppressed cell activity, apoptosis, and inflammation, which was reversed by miR-130b-5p inhibitor. These findings suggest that CASC11 is associated with SCI severity, while in vitro data indicate its involvement in inflammatory and apoptotic responses through the CASC11/miR-130b-5p/SPP1 axis. This study is limited by its single-center design and lack of in vivo validation.