Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2017, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (10): 1708-1715.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.217351

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miR-30c promotes Schwann cell remyelination following peripheral nerve injury

Sheng Yi, Qi-hui Wang, Li-li Zhao, Jing Qin, Ya-xian Wang, Bin Yu, Song-lin Zhou   

  1. Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2017-06-02 Online:2017-10-15 Published:2017-10-15
  • Contact: Song-lin Zhou, M.D.,songlin.zhou@ntu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China, No. BK20150409; the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China, No. 15KJB180013; the Natural Science Foundation of Nantong of Jiangsu Province, No. MS12015043; Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China, No. 2016M600435; Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China, No. 1601056A; and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

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Abstract:

Differential expression of miRNAs occurs in injured proximal nerve stumps and includes miRNAs that are firstly down-regulated and then gradually up-regulated following nerve injury. These miRNAs might be related to a Schwann cell phenotypic switch. miR-30c, as a member of this group, was further investigated in the current study. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sciatic nerve transection and proximal nerve stumps were collected at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post injury for analysis. Following sciatic nerve injury, miR-30c was down-regulated, reaching a minimum on day 4, and was then upregulated to normal levels. Schwann cells were isolated from neonatal rat sciatic nerve stumps, then transfected with miR-30c agomir and co-cultured in vitro with dorsal root ganglia. The enhanced expression of miR-30c robustly increased the amount of myelin-associated protein in the co-cultured dorsal root ganglia and Schwann cells. We then modeled sciatic nerve crush injury in vivo in Sprague-Dawley rats and tested the effect of perineural injection of miR-30c agomir on myelin sheath regeneration. Fourteen days after surgery, sciatic nerve stumps were harvested and subjected to immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The direct injection of miR-30c stimulated the formation of myelin sheath, thus contributing to peripheral nerve regeneration. Overall, our findings indicate that miR-30c can promote Schwann cell myelination following peripheral nerve injury. The functional study of miR-30c will benefit the discovery of new therapeutic targets and the development of new treatment strategies for peripheral nerve regeneration.