Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 regulates ferroptosis and macrophage polarization in spinal cord injury via glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) regulating glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on neuron ferroptosis and macrophage polarization in spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: A rat model of SCI was established through an injury induced by an external force. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunofluorescence were used, respectively, to detect changes in rat locomotion, spinal cord histopathology, and NeuN expression in the spinal cord. Iron content in the spinal cord and levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione were measured using detection kits. Transmission electron microscopy was used to reveal the morphological characteristics of mitochondria. Western blotting was performed to detect PRMT8, GDNF, cystine/glutamate transporter XCT, glutathione peroxidase 4, 4‐hydroxynonenal, heme oxygenase‐1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD16, and arginase 1 (Arg1). The expression levels of iNOS and Arg1 in the spinal cord were visualized by immunofluorescence. ELISA was performed to measure the expression levels of IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α. Rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and RMa‐bm rat macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide under hypoxic conditions. The viability and iron content of the neurons were detected using Cell Counting Kit‐8 and a specific probe, respectively. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to assess macrophage polarization. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to identify the binding of PRMT8 to the GDFN promoter. RESULTS: Neuronal ferroptosis and M1 macrophage polarization were promoted, and PRMT8 expression was downregulated in SCI. PRMT8 overexpression exerted therapeutic effects on injured DRG neurons and RMa‐bm cells. Moreover, PRMT8 overexpression inhibited ferroptosis and M1 macrophage polarization in rats with SCI. PRMT8 promoted GDNF expression by catalyzing H3K4 methylation. Knockdown of GDNF counteracted the therapeutic effects of PRMT8 overexpression. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of PRMT8 may inhibit ferroptosis and M1 macrophage polarization by increasing GDNF expression, thereby alleviating SCI.