Non-Coding RNAs Regulate Spinal Cord Injury-Related Neuropathic Pain via Neuroinflammation

Jing Zhu,1,* Fei Huang,1,2,* Yonglin Hu,1,3,* Wei Qiao,1 Yingchao Guan,1 Zhi-Jun Zhang,1,* Su Liu,1 Ying Liu4 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, JiangSu Province, 226001, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nantong Health College of Jiangsu Province, Nantong, JiangSu Province, 226010, People’s Republic of China; 3Affiliated Nantong Rehabilitation Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, JiangSu Province, 226001, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, JiangSu Province, 226001, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ying Liu, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, JiangSu Province, People’s Republic of China, Email proliuying@163.com Su Liu, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, JiangSu Province, 226001, People’s Republic of China, Email 327202278@qq.comAbstract: Secondary chronic neuropathic pain (NP) in addition to sensory, motor, or autonomic dysfunction can significantly reduce quality of life after spinal cord injury (SCI). The mechanisms of SCI-related NP have been studied in clinical trials and with the use of experimental models. However, in developing new treatment strategies for SCI patients, NP poses new challenges. The inflammatory response following SCI promotes the development of NP. Previous studies suggest that reducing neuroinflammation following SCI can improve NP-related behaviors. Intensive studies of the roles of non-coding RNAs in SCI have discovered that ncRNAs bind target mRNA, act between activated glia, neuronal cells, or other immunocytes, regulate gene expression, inhibit inflammation, and influence the prognosis of NP.Keywords: non‐coding RNAs, neuroinflammation, neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury