南方医科大学Lixin Zhu研究组发现，脊髓损伤后Mertk通过Rhoa/Rock1/P-MLC通路降低血液-脊髓屏障的渗透性。该项研究成果于2024年4月9日在线发表在《神经科学通报》上。

研究人员表示，血脊髓屏障（BSCB）的破坏是脊髓损伤（SCI）后继发性损伤的关键事件。据报道，Mertk在调节炎症和细胞骨架动力学方面发挥着重要作用。然而，Mertk在BSCB中的具体参与情况仍不明确。

研究人员证明了Mertk在BSCB修复中的独特作用。Mertk在脊髓损伤后的内皮细胞中表达减少。过表达Mertk会上调紧密连接蛋白（TJ），降低BSCB的通透性，进而抑制炎症和细胞凋亡。这最终促进了神经再生和功能恢复。进一步的实验发现，RhoA/Rock1/P-MLC通路在Mertk的作用中发挥了关键作用。

这些发现强调了Mertk通过减轻BSCB通透性促进SCI恢复的作用，并可能为SCI修复提供潜在靶点。

附：英文原文

Title: Mertk Reduces Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Permeability Through the Rhoa/Rock1/P-MLC Pathway After Spinal Cord Injury

Author: Lin, Jiezhao, Sun, Yuanfang, Xia, Bin, Wang, Yihan, Xie, Changnan, Wang, Jinfeng, Hu, Jinwei, Zhu, Lixin

Issue&Volume: 2024-04-09

Abstract: Disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) is a critical event in the secondary injury following spinal cord injury (SCI). Mertk has been reported to play an important role in regulating inflammation and cytoskeletal dynamics. However, the specific involvement of Mertk in BSCB remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated a distinct role of Mertk in the repair of BSCB. Mertk expression is decreased in endothelial cells following SCI. Overexpression of Mertk upregulated tight junction proteins (TJs), reducing BSCB permeability and subsequently inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. Ultimately, this led to enhanced neural regeneration and functional recovery. Further experiments revealed that the RhoA/Rock1/P-MLC pathway plays a key role in the effects of Mertk. These findings highlight the role of Mertk in promoting SCI recovery through its ability to mitigate BSCB permeability and may provide potential targets for SCI repair.

DOI: 10.1007/s12264-024-01199-x

Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12264-024-01199-x