Imatinib prevents blood-spinal cord barrier disruption by inhibiting PDGFR-mediated JMJD3 expression and activation after spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

After a spinal cord injury (SCI), disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) leads to secondary injuries, including inflammatory responses and apoptotic cell death, ultimately causing permanent neurological deficits. Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been reported to enhance BSCB integrity and improve functional recovery after SCI. However, the mechanism by which imatinib regulates BSCB integrity remains unclear. Recent studies have identified the histone H3K27me3 demethylase JMJD3 as a key mediator of BSCB disruption, with high expression observed in blood vessels after SCI. In this study, we investigated whether imatinib regulates JMJD3 expression and activation through PDGFR signaling, thereby mitigating BSCB disruption following SCI.

Methods

I

SUBMITTER: Park CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12269138 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature