The protection of lentivirus-mediated neuroglobin gene transfer in vivo on injured spinal cord in rabbits, an experimental study

English Keywords:Spinal cord injury  Neuroglobin  Gene transfer  Malondialdehyde  Nitric oxide

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectiveｓ: To investigate the possible protective mechanism of lentivirus-mediated neuroglobin gene transfer in vivo on injured spinal cord (SCI) in rabbits.　Methodｓ:　Ninety-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups(n=24)　according to intervention after SCI: no intervention(A); normal saline group(B); LV-GFP group (C); and LV-Ngb group(D).SCI was introduced by epidural balloon compression.24 hours after compression, T9 laminectomy was performed, then normal saline, LV-GFP or LV-Ngb was injected in situ respectively.Motor function of hind limbs after injection was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan(BBB) score, the expressions of green fluorescence in injured spinal cord were observed by fluorescence microscope, the expressions of Ngb mRNA and protein in injured spinal cord were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were also tested. Resultｓ：　Significant functional improvement was observed in group D compared with group A, B and C at day 14 and 21.The expressions of green fluorescence in injured spinal cord were observed in group C and D.The Ngb expression in group D increased significantly compared with ｔｈｅ　other 3 groups at day 7, 14 and 21.The MDA and NO levels in group D were lower than ｔｈｅ　other 3 groups(P<0.05)　at day 7, 14 and 21. Conclsionｓ：　Lentivirus-mediated neuroglobin gene transfer in vivo may induce high expression of Ngb, which may be resulted from decreasing secondary spinal cord injury, thus promotｉｎｇ hind limbs motorfunction.