Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression

Jincheng Zhang, Yingqi Zhang, Lei Chen, Zhitao Rao, Yeqing Sun Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yeqing SunDepartment of Orthopedics Tongji Hospital,Tongji University School of Medic...

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Main Authors: Zhang J, Zhang Y, Chen L, Rao Z, Sun Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-07-01
Series:Drug Design, Development and Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/ulinastatin-promotes-regeneration-of-peripheral-nerves-after-sciatic-n-peer-reviewed-article-DDDT
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author Zhang J
Zhang Y
Chen L
Rao Z
Sun Y
author_facet Zhang J
Zhang Y
Chen L
Rao Z
Sun Y
author_sort Zhang J
collection DOAJ
description Jincheng Zhang, Yingqi Zhang, Lei Chen, Zhitao Rao, Yeqing Sun Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yeqing SunDepartment of Orthopedics Tongji Hospital,Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200065 People’s Republic of ChinaEmail leafsun306@163.comBackground: Peripheral nerve injury is characterized as a common clinical problem. Ulinastatin (UTI) is a serine protease inhibitor with many biological activities including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nonetheless, it is unknown whether UTI has a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury.Methods: Thirty rats were divided into the sham operation group, the sciatic nerve injury group (injected with normal saline), and the UTI treatment group (80mg/kg/day for two consecutive weeks). Sciatic nerve function index (SFI) was used to assess the biological functions of the sciatic nerve, and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was measured by electrophysiology. The expressions of let-7 miRNA members were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Nerve growth factor (NGF), nerve regeneration-related proteins GAP43 and NF200, and myelin formation-related proteins MAG and PMP22 expressions were explored by Western blot. After Schwann cells were transfected with let-7 mimics, pcDNA3.1-NGF, let-7 inhibitors, NGF siRNA and their corresponding controls, 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and Transwell assays were employed to investigate the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells. H2O2 was utilized to construct oxidative injury to cells, and the contents of MDA, SOD, GSH, and CAT were determined.Results: UTI treatment remarkably increased SFI of the rats and CMAP of sciatic nerve, enhanced nerve regeneration, and myelin regeneration, and raised the production of GAP43, NF200, MAG, and PMP22. Furthermore, it was found that UTI markedly reduced let-7 miRNAs’ expressions and increased NGF expression after sciatic nerve injury. The dual-luciferase reporter assay validated that let-7 miRNAs targeted NGF, and functional experiments demonstrated that low expression of let-7 miRNAs and NGF overexpression contributed to Schwann cells’ proliferation and migration. Additionally, UTI treatment repressed the oxidative stress regulated by let-7/NGF axis.Conclusion: UTI modulates the let-7/NGF axis to inhibit oxidative stress, promote nerve regeneration, and facilitate function recovery after peripheral nerve injury.Keywords: ulinastatin, let-7 microRNAs, NGF, peripheral nerve injury
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spelling doaj.art-877ccd674b2946a8b23cc82b8b38ac062022-12-21T23:39:45ZengDove Medical PressDrug Design, Development and Therapy1177-88812020-07-01Volume 142695270555208Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF ExpressionZhang JZhang YChen LRao ZSun YJincheng Zhang, Yingqi Zhang, Lei Chen, Zhitao Rao, Yeqing Sun Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200065, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yeqing SunDepartment of Orthopedics Tongji Hospital,Tongji University School of Medicine, 389 Xincun Road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200065 People’s Republic of ChinaEmail leafsun306@163.comBackground: Peripheral nerve injury is characterized as a common clinical problem. Ulinastatin (UTI) is a serine protease inhibitor with many biological activities including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Nonetheless, it is unknown whether UTI has a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury.Methods: Thirty rats were divided into the sham operation group, the sciatic nerve injury group (injected with normal saline), and the UTI treatment group (80mg/kg/day for two consecutive weeks). Sciatic nerve function index (SFI) was used to assess the biological functions of the sciatic nerve, and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was measured by electrophysiology. The expressions of let-7 miRNA members were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Nerve growth factor (NGF), nerve regeneration-related proteins GAP43 and NF200, and myelin formation-related proteins MAG and PMP22 expressions were explored by Western blot. After Schwann cells were transfected with let-7 mimics, pcDNA3.1-NGF, let-7 inhibitors, NGF siRNA and their corresponding controls, 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and Transwell assays were employed to investigate the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells. H2O2 was utilized to construct oxidative injury to cells, and the contents of MDA, SOD, GSH, and CAT were determined.Results: UTI treatment remarkably increased SFI of the rats and CMAP of sciatic nerve, enhanced nerve regeneration, and myelin regeneration, and raised the production of GAP43, NF200, MAG, and PMP22. Furthermore, it was found that UTI markedly reduced let-7 miRNAs’ expressions and increased NGF expression after sciatic nerve injury. The dual-luciferase reporter assay validated that let-7 miRNAs targeted NGF, and functional experiments demonstrated that low expression of let-7 miRNAs and NGF overexpression contributed to Schwann cells’ proliferation and migration. Additionally, UTI treatment repressed the oxidative stress regulated by let-7/NGF axis.Conclusion: UTI modulates the let-7/NGF axis to inhibit oxidative stress, promote nerve regeneration, and facilitate function recovery after peripheral nerve injury.Keywords: ulinastatin, let-7 microRNAs, NGF, peripheral nerve injuryhttps://www.dovepress.com/ulinastatin-promotes-regeneration-of-peripheral-nerves-after-sciatic-n-peer-reviewed-article-DDDTulinastatinlet-7 micrornasngfperipheral nerve injury
spellingShingle Zhang J
Zhang Y
Chen L
Rao Z
Sun Y
Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
ulinastatin
let-7 micrornas
ngf
peripheral nerve injury
title Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
title_full Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
title_fullStr Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
title_full_unstemmed Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
title_short Ulinastatin Promotes Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves After Sciatic Nerve Injury by Targeting let-7 microRNAs and Enhancing NGF Expression
title_sort ulinastatin promotes regeneration of peripheral nerves after sciatic nerve injury by targeting let 7 micrornas and enhancing ngf expression
topic ulinastatin
let-7 micrornas
ngf
peripheral nerve injury
url https://www.dovepress.com/ulinastatin-promotes-regeneration-of-peripheral-nerves-after-sciatic-n-peer-reviewed-article-DDDT
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