Abdallah, AnasTekin, AbdurrahimÖztanır, Mustafa NamıkSüsgün, SedaYabacı, AyşegülÇınar, İrfanCan, EnginTokar, SadıkAkbaş, FahriSeyithanoğlu, Mehmet Hakan2023-09-212023-09-212023Abdallah, A., Tekin, A., Öztanır, M. N., Süsgün, S., Yabacı, A., Çınar, İ. ... Seyithanoğlu, M. H. (2023). Effects of methylprednisolone in the treatment of spinal cord injuries by evaluation of microRNA-21: An experimental study. Journal of Neurological Surgery, Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, 84(3), 240-246. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-17435522193-63152193-6323https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1743552https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12511/11481Background and Study Aims Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most complicated pathologies that affect active young males. miR-21 primarily regulates several cellular processes. We aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of miR-21 and test methylprednisolone as a disease-modifying agent on experimental SCI tissues. Methods A total of 36 8- to 10-week-old adult female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 g were used. Animals were randomly divided into six groups. Except for groups 1 and 4, the spinal trauma model was applied to all animal groups using the clipping method. In groups 3 and 6, methylprednisolone was given. For real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) investigations, rats in groups 1, 2, and 3 were reoperated on after the first postoperative day, whereas those in groups 4, 5, and 6 were reoperated on after postoperative day 7 and spinal cord samples from the laminectomy area were removed for gene expression analysis. Relative gene expression of miR-21, Gfap , Vim , Stat3 , Faslg , Pten , Bax , Bcl2 , Cox2 , and Il6 were determined with quantitative reverse transcription (qRT) PCR. Results In group 3, the miR-21 expression significantly increased compared with groups 1 and 2. When compared with group 3, a decrease in miR-21 expression was observed in group 6 ( p < 0.05). When compared with group 4, group 6 had lower levels of Gfap , Pten , Stat3 , and Bax ( p < 0.05). Conclusions miR-21 supports the beneficial aspects of the body's healing mechanisms following SCI. In the acute phase, the use of methylprednisolone increases miR-21 expression in the early period of trauma. Methylprednisolone increases some astrogliosis and inflammation biomarkers' levels; however, it did not affect the apoptotic biomarkers.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessSpinal Cord InjurymiR-21MethylprednisoloneReal-Time PCRArticle84324024610.1055/s-0042-1743552Q40007839301000012-s2.0-8512893085235439827Q3