Treadmill training improves neural function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and attenuating apoptosis

To investigate the role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in neural function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) after treadmill training. Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: (a) sham group; (b) SCI group; (c) SCI+treadmill training group (SCI/TT); and (d) SCI/TT+AG490 group (a JAK2 inhibitor) ( n = 12). The 12 Sprague–Dawley rats in each group were randomly assigned into 1 st , 3 rd , 7 th , and 14 th day subgroups. The Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale was used to assess the spinal cord function, and JAK2, STAT3, and IL-6 protein expressions in the rat spinal cord were evaluated by western blot. The level of cell apoptosis and expressions of apoptotic proteins were evaluated by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Rats in the SCI+TT group showed a significantly higher BBB score after SCI compared with the SCI group and the SCI/TT+AG490 group. Mechanistically, the JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway was immediately activated after SCI compared with sham group, and JAK2 and STAT3 were obviously upregulated when treadmill training was performed ( P < 0.05). Results of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptotic rate in SCI/TT was significantly lower than that in the SCI group and SCI/TT+AG490 group ( P < 0.05). Besides, the IL-6 expression in the SCI/TT group was significantly attenuated compared with the SCI group ( P < 0.05). Our results showed that physical treadmill training can enhance activation of JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway and attenuate apoptosis in the injured spinal cord, resulting in better functional recovery. These results underline the importance of synergistic treatment strategies for SCI.