Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly alters gene expression, potentially impeding functional recovery. This study investigated the effects of atorvastatin, a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, on gene expression and functional recovery in a chronic murine SCI model. Female C57BL/6J mice...

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Main Authors: Samuel C. Buchl, Ha Neui Kim, Benjamin Hur, Whitney L. Simon, Monica R. Langley, Jaeyun Sung, Isobel A. Scarisbrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Neurotherapeutics
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878747924002046
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author Samuel C. Buchl
Ha Neui Kim
Benjamin Hur
Whitney L. Simon
Monica R. Langley
Jaeyun Sung
Isobel A. Scarisbrick
author_facet Samuel C. Buchl
Ha Neui Kim
Benjamin Hur
Whitney L. Simon
Monica R. Langley
Jaeyun Sung
Isobel A. Scarisbrick
author_sort Samuel C. Buchl
collection DOAJ
description Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly alters gene expression, potentially impeding functional recovery. This study investigated the effects of atorvastatin, a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, on gene expression and functional recovery in a chronic murine SCI model. Female C57BL/6J mice underwent moderate 0.25 ​mm lateral compression SCI and received daily atorvastatin (10 ​mg/kg) or vehicle-only injections from two weeks post-injury for four weeks. Sensorimotor functions were assessed using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS), its subscore, and the inclined plane test. RNA sequencing of spinal cord tissues identified robust transcriptomic changes from SCI and a smaller subset from atorvastatin treatment. Atorvastatin enhanced sensorimotor recovery within two weeks of treatment initiation, with effects persisting to the experimental endpoint. Pathway analysis showed atorvastatin enriched neural regeneration processes including Fatty Acid Transport, Axon Guidance, and the Endocannabinoid Developing Neuron Pathway; improved mitochondrial function via increased TCA Cycle II and reduced Mitochondrial Dysfunction; and decreased Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteases. Key gene drivers included Fabp7, Unc5c, Rest, and Klf4. Together, these results indicate atorvastatin's potential in chronic SCI recovery, especially where already indicated for cardiovascular protection.
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spelling doaj-art-c91b03a87c544da18edecd42853d3d2e2025-08-20T02:18:00ZengElsevierNeurotherapeutics1878-74792025-03-01222e0051710.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00517Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injurySamuel C. Buchl0Ha Neui Kim1Benjamin Hur2Whitney L. Simon3Monica R. Langley4Jaeyun Sung5Isobel A. Scarisbrick6Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN 55905, USADepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USAMicrobiomics Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USAMayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USAMicrobiomics Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Computational Biology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USAMayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Corresponding author.Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly alters gene expression, potentially impeding functional recovery. This study investigated the effects of atorvastatin, a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, on gene expression and functional recovery in a chronic murine SCI model. Female C57BL/6J mice underwent moderate 0.25 ​mm lateral compression SCI and received daily atorvastatin (10 ​mg/kg) or vehicle-only injections from two weeks post-injury for four weeks. Sensorimotor functions were assessed using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS), its subscore, and the inclined plane test. RNA sequencing of spinal cord tissues identified robust transcriptomic changes from SCI and a smaller subset from atorvastatin treatment. Atorvastatin enhanced sensorimotor recovery within two weeks of treatment initiation, with effects persisting to the experimental endpoint. Pathway analysis showed atorvastatin enriched neural regeneration processes including Fatty Acid Transport, Axon Guidance, and the Endocannabinoid Developing Neuron Pathway; improved mitochondrial function via increased TCA Cycle II and reduced Mitochondrial Dysfunction; and decreased Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteases. Key gene drivers included Fabp7, Unc5c, Rest, and Klf4. Together, these results indicate atorvastatin's potential in chronic SCI recovery, especially where already indicated for cardiovascular protection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878747924002046Chronic spinal cord injuryLocomotor recoveryRNA sequencingSpinal cord transcriptomicsPathway analysis
spellingShingle Samuel C. Buchl
Ha Neui Kim
Benjamin Hur
Whitney L. Simon
Monica R. Langley
Jaeyun Sung
Isobel A. Scarisbrick
Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
Neurotherapeutics
Chronic spinal cord injury
Locomotor recovery
RNA sequencing
Spinal cord transcriptomics
Pathway analysis
title Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
title_full Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
title_fullStr Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
title_full_unstemmed Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
title_short Delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
title_sort delayed atorvastatin delivery promotes recovery after experimental spinal cord injury
topic Chronic spinal cord injury
Locomotor recovery
RNA sequencing
Spinal cord transcriptomics
Pathway analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878747924002046
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