International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Prof. Dr. Jivko V. Stoyanov

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Guest Editor

Swiss Paraplegic Research, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland
Interests: spinal cord injury; biology of aging; molecular and cell biology; biobanking; immunity and infection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) using both traditional and omics approaches. SCI is a devastating condition affecting millions of individuals worldwide; therefore, understanding its underlying molecular mechanisms is crucial for the development of effective therapies.

The scope of this Special Issue includes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that cover topics such as the identification of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, the characterization of molecular pathways involved in SCI pathophysiology, and the development of novel therapeutics based on these molecular changes. Additionally, this Issue explores the challenges and opportunities associated with combining traditional and omics approaches in the study of SCI, including data integration, standardization, and analysis.

This Special Issue aims to bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers and experts to provide a comprehensive perspective on the latest research on SCI, from traditional techniques to omics approaches. We believe that the contributions to this Special Issue will shed light on the potential for these technologies to lead to new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for this debilitating condition. We invite researchers from diverse backgrounds to contribute to this Issue to enhance our understanding of SCI and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. Jivko V. Stoyanov
Guest Editor

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Keywords

spinal cord injury
pathophysiology
molecular mechanisms
omics approaches
genomics
proteomics
metabolomics

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MicroRNA-133b Dysregulation in a Mouse Model of Cervical Contusion Injury

by James Young Ho Yu, Thomas C. Chen and Camelia A. Danilov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 3058; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25053058 - 06 Mar 2024

Viewed by 493

Abstract

Our previous research studies have demonstrated the role of microRNA133b (miR133b) in healing the contused spinal cord when administered either intranasally or intravenously 24 h following an injury. While our data showed beneficial effects of exogenous miR133b delivered within hours of a spinal cord injury (SCI), the kinetics of endogenous miR133b levels in the contused spinal cord and rostral/caudal segments of the injury were not fully investigated. In this study, we examined the miR133b dysregulation in a mouse model of moderate unilateral contusion injury at the fifth cervical (C5) level. Between 30 min and 7 days post-injury, mice were euthanized and tissues were collected from different areas of the spinal cord, ipsilateral and contralateral prefrontal motor cortices, and off-targets such as lung and spleen. The endogenous level of miR133b was determined by RT-qPCR. We found that after SCI, (a) most changes in miR133b level were restricted to the injured area with very limited alterations in the rostral and caudal parts relative to the injury site, (b) acute changes in the endogenous levels were predominantly specific to the lesion site with delayed miR133b changes in the motor cortex, and (c) ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres responded differently to unilateral SCI. Our results suggest that the therapeutic window for exogenous miR133b therapy begins earlier than 24 h post-injury and potentially lasts longer than 7 days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comprehensive Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury)

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14 pages, 2638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Feasibility of a Multimodal Approach to Pain Evaluation in Early Stages after Spinal Cord Injury

by Simona Capossela, Gunther Landmann, Mario Ernst, Lenka Stockinger and Jivko Stoyanov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 11122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241311122 - 05 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1205

Abstract

This research evaluates the feasibility of a multimodal pain assessment protocol during rehabilitation following spinal cord injury (SCI). The protocol amalgamates clinical workup (CW), quantitative sensory testing (QST), and psychosocial factors (PSF) administered at 4 (T1), 12 (T2), and 24 (T3) weeks post injury and at discharge (T4). Molecular blood biomarkers (BB) were evaluated via gene expression and proteomic assays at T1 and T4. Different pain trajectories and temporal changes were identified using QST, with inflammation and pain-related biomarkers recorded. Higher concentrations of osteopontin and cystatin-C were found in SCI patients compared to healthy controls, indicating their potential as biomarkers. We observed altered inflammatory responses and a slight increase in ICAM-1 and CCL3 were noted, pointing towards changes in cellular adhesion linked with spinal injury and a possible connection with neuropathic pain. Despite a small patient sample hindering the correlation of feasibility data, descriptive statistical analyses were conducted on stress, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and pain interferences. The SCI Pain Instrument (SCIPI) was efficient in distinguishing between nociceptive and neuropathic pain, showing a progressive increase in severity over time. The findings emphasize the need for the careful consideration of recruitment setting and protocol adjustments to enhance the feasibility of multimodal pain evaluation studies post SCI. They also shed light on potential early adaptive mechanisms in SCI pathophysiology, warranting the further exploration of prognostic and preventive strategies for chronic pain in the SCI population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comprehensive Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury)

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