OTULIN Can Improve Spinal Cord Injury by the NF-κB and Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling Pathways.

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a significant health concern, as it presently has no effective treatment in the clinical setting. Inflammation is a key player in the pathophysiological process of SCI, with a number of studies evidencing that the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway may impede the inflammatory response and improve SCI. OTULIN, as a de-ubiquitination enzyme, the most notable is its anti-inflammatory effect. OTULIN can inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway to suppress the inflammatory reaction via de-ubiquitination. In addition, OTULIN may promote vascular regeneration through the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in the wake of SCI. In this review, we analyze the structure and physiological function of OTULIN, along with both NF-κB and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways. Furthermore, we examine the significant role of OTULIN in SCI through its impairment of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which could open the possibility of it being a novel interventional target for the condition.