Investigation of Transcriptome Profile of Genes in Rats with Injured Spinal Cord after Transplantation of Menstrual Blood-derived Stem Cells and Treadmill Training by Sequencing Analysis

Abstract The objective of this study was to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) undergoing treatment with menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) and treadmill training, compared to untreated SCI rats. Spinal cord injury models were induced in SD rats via dorsal hemisection at T10, following which rats were divided into CTMT (cells and treadmill training) and SCI groups. In the CTMT group, MenSCs (1.0×105) were microinjected into the injured area, followed by 2 weeks of aerobic exercise training. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on injured spinal cord tissues, with subsequent analyses encompassing differential gene expression, GO pathway enrichment, KEGG pathway enrichment, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Motor function recovery was assessed using the Basso, Bresnahan, and Beattie (BBB) scoring system, while local pathological changes were evaluated via H&E staining. Validation of DEGs was conducted using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Transcriptome analysis revealed 247 up-regulated and 174 down-regulated genes in the CTMT group, with notable up-regulated genes including Bdnf, Hmox1, Sd4, Mmp3, and Cd163. KEGG and GO analyses indicated involvement in growth, development, metabolism, and immune-inflammatory processes, with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway enriched for BDNF genes. CTMT led to significant improvements in locomotor function and local pathology, accompanied by increased BDNF gene expression. The combined approach of MenSCs and treadmill training effectively enhanced motor function recovery and upregulated BDNF gene expression in SCI rats, suggesting a promising intervention target for SCI treatment and introducing a novel avenue for SCI management.