miR-155 Deletion in Mice Overcomes Neuron-Intrinsic and Neuron-Extrinsic Barriers to Spinal Cord Repair

Abstract

Axon regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) fails due to neuron-intrinsic mechanisms and extracellular barriers, including inflammation. Here, new data show that deleting microRNA-155 (miR-155) affects both mechanisms and improves repair and functional recovery after SCI. Macrophages lacking miR-155 have altered inflammatory capacity, which enhances neuron survival and axon growth of cocultured neurons. In addition, independent of macrophages, adult miR-155 KO neurons show enhanced spontaneous axon growth. Using either spinal cord dorsal column crush or contusion injury models, miR-155 deletion improves indices of repair and recovery. Therefore, miR-155 has a dual role in regulating spinal cord repair and may be a novel therapeutic target for SCI and other CNS pathologies.