A recent study in the field of respiratory health after spinal cord injury (SCI) has shed light on the potential benefits of treadmill training in improving lung function and mitigating lung cell apoptosis. The study, conducted on rats with complete SCI, emphasized the key role of apoptosis in secondary lung injury, which significantly contributes to patient mortality rates.
Research centered on the T10 segment of the spinal cord, where rats underwent treadmill training at specific post-injury intervals. Advanced laboratory techniques assessed lung function and the expression of critical apoptosis-related factors.
The study underscored that SCI results in heightened apoptosis and lung function impairment. Conversely, treadmill training was found to reduce alveolar cell apoptosis, suppress the MAPK/Erk pathway, and thus enhance lung function. The research pinpointed MAP3K3 as a target of miR145-5p, a molecule instrumental in regulating this signaling pathway and impacting apoptosis in alveolar cells.
Alarmingly, complications from SCI, including respiratory dysfunction, significantly affect patient quality of life and their contribution to society. Notably, respiratory complications are a leading cause of post-SCI mortality. While pulmonary function tests remain suboptimal in patients with lower injury SCI, higher injury segments result in impaired respiratory muscle function and difficulty clearing airway secretions.
Source: Nature.com