Loss of hsp70.1 Decreases Functional Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice.
10.4196/kjpp.2010.14.3.157
- Author:
Hyun Jeong KIM
1
;
Ji In JUNG
;
Youngkyung KIM
;
Jae Seon LEE
;
Young Wook YOON
;
Junesun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dental Anesthesiology and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injury;
Neuroprotection;
Heat shock protein;
Mice
- MeSH:
Animals;
Cytoprotection;
Heat-Shock Proteins;
HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins;
Humans;
Mice;
Paralysis;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Viola
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2010;14(3):157-161
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are specifically induced by various forms of stress. Hsp70.1, a member of the hsp70 family is known to play an important role in cytoprotection from stressful insults. However, the functional role of Hsp70 in motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI) is still unclear. To study the role of hsp70.1 in motor recovery following SCI, we assessed locomotor function in hsp70.1 knockout (KO) mice and their wild-type (WT) mice via the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale, before and after spinal hemisection at T13 level. We also examined lesion size in the spinal cord using Luxol fast blue/cresyl violet staining. One day after injury, KO and WT mice showed no significant difference in the motor function due to complete paralysis following spinal hemisection. However, when it compared to WT mice, KO mice had significantly delayed and decreased functional outcomes from 4 days up to 21 days after SCI. KO mice also showed significantly greater lesion size in the spinal cord than WT mice showed at 21 days after spinal hemisection. These results suggest that Hsp70 has a protective effect against traumatic SCI and the manipulation of the hsp70.1 gene may help improve the recovery of motor function, thereby enhancing neuroprotection after SCI.