Role of microRNA in spinal cord injury and therapeutic perspectives

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering neurological condition with profound socioeconomic consequences for both patients and caregivers. Although recent advances in medical management have enhanced the diagnosis, stabilization, survival, and overall quality of life for individuals with SCI, progress in improving long-term prognosis and promoting neural regeneration at the injury site remains limited. This slow progress is largely attributed to the complex pathophysiology of SCI and the diverse biochemical and physiological alterations that occur post-injury. Among the molecular regulators involved in SCI, microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, typically 18 to 24 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Experimental studies have shown that SCI induces significant alterations in miRNA expression, with several miRNAs and their target genes implicated in key pathological processes. While indirect evidence supports the involvement of miRNAs in SCI, direct evidence remains limited. This review summarizes current research progress on miRNA expression changes following SCI and discusses their functional relevance in SCI pathophysiology, highlighting the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets in clinical applications.