Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the depletion of SAM and SH3 domain-containing protein 1 (SASH1) on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the possible mechanism of SASH1 knockdown in astrocytes facilitating axonal growth.
Methods: SCI model was established in adult rats. SASH1 small interfering RNA (siSASH1) was used to investigate its function. Hindlimb motor function was evaluated by the Basso-Bresnahan-Beattie (BBB) assay. The gene expressions were evaluated by the methods of qRT-PCR, Western-blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry.
Results: SASH1 knockdown improved the BBB scores after SCI and significantly reduced GFAP expression. In cultured spinal astrocytes, siSASH1 treatment decreased interferon-γ release and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release. When cocultured with SASH1-knockdown astrocytes, axonal growth increased. The neuronal tropomyosin receptor kinase B (BDNF receptor) expression increased, especially in the axonal tips. SASH1 expression increased while NSCs differentiated into glial cells, instead of neurons. After SASH1 depletion, differentiated NSCs maintained a higher level of Nestin protein and an increase in BDNF release.
Conclusions: These results indicate that SASH1 acts as an astrocytic differentiation-maintaining protein, and SASH1 downregulation limits glial activation and contributes toward functional recovery after SCI.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9804067 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cns.13998 | DOI Listing |
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