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Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious trauma to the central nervous system. M1/M2 microglial polarization as well as the following neuroinflammatory response are crucial factors in SCI. Autophagy plays an important role in SCI, but its neuroprotective or neurodegenerative role remains controversial. Materials and methods: Here, we majorly examined the properties of autophagy in SCI and uncovered the regulatory relationship between autophagy and microglial polarization in SCI. Results: In our study, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score was declined in SCI. The cervical contusion SCI stimulated a sustaining neuropathic pain-linked phenotype characterized by thermal hyperalgesia as well as mechanical allodynia. It was revealed the structural damage to the spinal cord in SCI. Besides, the expression of microglia markers as well as inflammatory factor were promoted in SCI. Cervical contusion SCI induced autophagy inhibition and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation in mice. More importantly, enhanced autophagy induced by rapamycin suppressed the NF-κB pathway and alleviated cervical contusion SCI-induced neurological function damage in mice. Additionally, rapamycin promoted microglia M2 polarization and improved microglia-mediated inflammatory response. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that autophagy played a protective role in cervical SCI by promoting microglia polarization toward M2 through the NF-κB pathway. Our study may provide a novel sight for SCI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intervertebral disc degenerative diseases is one the main causes of lumbago, and its main pathological mechanism is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). As shown in previous reports, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-exosomes can slow down or even reverse degenerated nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in IDD. Thus, we attempted to clarify the specific role of MSC-exosomes underlying IDD progression. Materials and methods: In the present study, the harvested particles were identified as MSC-exosomes. MSC-exosomes facilitated activation of autophagy pathway in AGE-treated NP cells. MSC-exosomes repressed inflammatory response in AGE-treated NP cells. Autophagy pathway activation enhanced inflammatory response in AGE-stimulated NP cells. Results: Mesenchymal stem cell-exosomes facilitated autophagy pathway activation and repressed inflammation in IDD rats. Autophagy inhibition exerted a protective role against inflammatory response in IDD rats. Conclusions: In conclusion, MSC-exosomes represses inflammation via activating autophagy pathway, which provides a potential novel insight for seeking therapeutic plans of IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]