Neuromuscular electrical stimulation promoting the recovery of motor function in mice after spinal cord injury by regulating interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling pathway

QIN Jian-Feng; SONG Hai-Wang; SUN Bao-Fei; JI Yang-Dan; LONG Si-Fang; YANG Dan

doi:10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2024.03.002

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Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (3) : 260-267. DOI: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2024.03.002

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation promoting the recovery of motor function in mice after spinal cord injury by regulating interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling pathway

QIN Jian-feng¹ SONG Hai-wang² SUN Bao-fei² JI Yang-dan¹ LONG Si-fang¹ YANG Dan^2*

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Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on interleukin-6 (IL-6)/STAT3 signaling pathway in mice after spinal cord injury, and to explore the mechanism of its effect on motor function recovery. Methods Seventy-two SPF grade mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, spinal cord injury (SCI) group and NMES group. BMS score, inclined plane test and neuromuscular electrophysiology (EMG) were used to evaluate the recovery of spinal cord injury in mice. Western blotting and Real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors，IL-6/STAT3, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in spinal cord tissues of three groups of mice. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of spinal cord injury. Results BMS scores and the inclined plane test of mice in the NMES group were higher than those in SCI group (P<0.05). The maximum amplitude of motor evoked potential in NMES group was higher than that in SCI group (P<0.05). The expressions of TNF-α, IL-12A and GFAP in the spinal cord of NMES group were lower than that of SCI group (P<0.05), while the expressions of TGF-β, IL-10 and BDNF were higher than that of SCI group (P<0.05). The protein expressions of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway of NMES group were lower than that of SCI group(P<0.05). Conclusion Neuromuscular electrical stimulation plays an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby promoting the recovery of hind limb motor function in mice after spinal cord injury.

Key words

Spinal cord injury / Inflammation / Interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling pathway / Neuromuscular electrical stimulation / Western blotting / Mouse

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QIN Jian-feng SONG Hai-wang SUN Bao-fei JI Yang-dan LONG Si-fang YANG Dan. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation promoting the recovery of motor function in mice after spinal cord injury by regulating interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling pathway[J]. Acta Anatomica Sinica. 2024, 55(3): 260-267 https://doi.org/10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2024.03.002

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