Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (24): 6196-6206.doi: 10.12307/2026.293

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Molecular dynamic characteristics of rat gastrocnemius muscle under acute and short-term exercise intervention during the subacute phase of spinal cord injury

Wei Xinyi1, Zheng Yan2, Chen Qian3, Ren Jiajia1, Li Jian4   

  1. 1School of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; 2School of Physical Education, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, Jiangsu Province, China; 3School of Physical Education, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, Shaanxi Province, China; 4Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
  • Received:2025-07-19 Revised:2025-12-18 Online:2026-08-28 Published:2026-01-29
  • Contact: Li Jian, MD, Assistant researcher, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
  • About author:Wei Xinyi, MS, School of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury triggers a cascade of neuro-muscular system damage, involving central pattern generator dysfunction and peripheral muscle molecular network disruptions. Exercise can regulate key genes and promote the recovery of spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE: To identify exercise-regulated key genes through bioinformatics analysis and explore the mechanisms by which exercise intervention facilitates the recovery of spinal cord injury. 
METHODS: The GSE45550 dataset based on the GPL1355 platform was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes regulated by acute and short-term exercise interventions during the subacute phase of spinal cord injury in rats were identified. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were performed on these differentially expressed genes, and a protein-protein interaction network was constructed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After acute exercise intervention in the subacute phase of spinal cord injury, 106 genes were upregulated and 97 genes were downregulated in the gastrocnemius muscle, whereas short-term exercise intervention resulted in 138 upregulated and 105 downregulated genes. (2) Gene Ontology analysis showed that acute exercise mainly enriched genes related to chromosome segregation, while short-term exercise primarily promoted signal transduction processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that acute exercise was associated with the upregulation of pathways related to gastric acid secretion and motor protein function, whereas short-term exercise upregulated neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and downregulated inflammatory pathways. (3) Gene Set Enrichment Analysis indicated that acute exercise intervention mainly upregulated cell cycle and DNA segregation pathways, while short-term intervention led to downregulation of the interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways. (4) The protein-protein interaction network revealed two key functional modules in acute exercise intervention and three in short-term intervention. In summary, acute exercise significantly activated cell proliferation-related pathways (e.g., cell cycle and mitosis) and upregulated pro-proliferative genes such as Top2a and Sele. In contrast, short-term intervention exerted anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways and reducing the expression of inflammatory factors such as COMP. These findings provide insights into molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury recovery.

Key words: spinal cord injury, exercise intervention, molecular mechanism, bioinformatics, temporality, rehabilitation, cell cycle, inflammatory pathway

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