Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2021, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (7): 1331-1335.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.301033

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Ninjurin-1: a biomarker for reflecting the process of neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury

Poornima D. E. Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage1, 2, Jeongtae Kim1, 3, Yuna Choi1, Changjong Moon2, Taekyun Shin1, *, Meejung Ahn1, 4, *   

  1. 1 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea;  2 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea;  3 Department of Anatomy, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea;  4 Department of Animal Science, College of Life Science, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
  • Online:2021-07-15 Published:2021-01-07
  • Contact: Meejung Ahn, DVM, PhD, meeahn20@sangji.ac.kr; Taekyun Shin, DVM, PhD, shint@jejunu.ac.kr.
  • Supported by:
    MA was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Grant No. NRF-2018R1D1A1B07050916).

Abstract: Previous studies have shown that Ninjurin-1 participates in cell trafficking and axonal growth following central and peripheral nervous system neuroinflammation. But its precise roles in these processes and involvement in spinal cord injury pathophysiology remain unclear. Western blot assay revealed that Ninjurin-1 levels in rats with spinal cord injury exhibited an upregulation until day 4 post-injury and slightly decreased thereafter compared with sham controls. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that Ninjurin-1 immunoreactivity in rats with spinal cord injury sharply increased on days 1 and 4 post-injury and slightly decreased on days 7 and 21 post-injury compared with sham controls. Ninjurin-1 immunostaining was weak in vascular endothelial cells, ependymal cells, and some glial cells in sham controls while it was relatively strong in macrophages, microglia, and reactive astrocytes. These findings suggest that a variety of cells, including vascular endothelial cells, macrophages, and microglia, secrete Ninjurin-1 and they participate in the pathophysiology of compression-induced spinal cord injury. All experimental procedures were approved by the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of Jeju National University (approval No. 2018-0029) on July 6, 2018.

Key words: astrocytes, clip compression injury, macrophage, microglia, neuroinflammation, Ninjurin-1, rat, spinal cord