Expression Profile of MiR-128 in the Astrocytoma Patients and Cell Lines

MiR-128-3p - a gray eminence of the human central nervous system

MicroRNA-128-3p (miR-128-3p) is a versatile molecule with multiple functions in the physiopathology of the human central nervous system. Perturbations of miR-128-3p, which is enriched in the brain, contribute to a plethora of neurodegenerative disorders, brain injuries, and malignancies, as this miRNA is a crucial regulator of gene expression in the brain, playing an essential role in the maintenance and function of cells stemming from neuronal lineage. However, the differential expression of miR-128-3p in pathologies underscores the importance of the balance between its high and low levels. Significantly, numerous reports pointed to miR-128-3p as one of the most depleted in glioblastoma, implying it is a critical player in the disease's pathogenesis and thus may serve as a therapeutic agent for this most aggressive form of brain tumor. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the diverse roles of miR-128-3p. We focus on its involvement in the neurogenesis and pathophysiology of malignant and neurodegenerative diseases. We also highlight the promising potential of miR-128-3p as an antitumor agent for the future therapy of human cancers, including glioblastoma, and as the linchpin of brain development and function, potentially leading to the development of new therapies for neurological conditions.

Expression and clinical value of miR-128 and IGF-1 in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the expression and clinical value of miRNA-128 (miR-128) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODS

Eighty patients with acute ischemic stroke hospitalized in Rizhao Hospital of TCM from August 2016 to August 2018 were selected as the experimental group. Sixty healthy patients with normal physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The expression levels of miR-128 and IGF-1 were compared between the two groups and between AIS patients with different levels of nervous functional defects, different infarct size and different prognosis. ROC curve of serum miR-128 and IGF-1 expressions for AIS diagnosis alone and in combination was analyzed.

RESULTS

The expression level of miR-128 in the serum of patients in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, and the expression level of IGF-1 was lower than that of the control group (P<0.001). The serum miR-128 expression of patients in the ineffective group was higher than that of the effective group, and the expression of IGF-1 was lower than that of the effective group (P<0.001). The expression level of serum miR-128 in AIS patients was higher than that in healthy subjects and increased with the aggravation of the disease. The expression level of IGF-1 of AIS patients was lower than that of healthy subjects and decreased with the aggravation of the disease. The two factors were involved in the formation and deterioration of the disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression levels can reflect the severity of the disease to a certain extent and provide references for the early diagnosis and prognostic treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

MicroRNA-9 Mediates the Cell Apoptosis by Targeting Bcl2l11 in Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain and accounts for about 87 % of all cases. During the cerebral ischemia, most of the neurons undergo the necrosis and apoptosis upon the exposure to the dramatic blood flow reduction. Although, it is known that both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways are involved in the neuronal apoptosis of ischemic brain injury. The complex underlying mechanisms remains less known. MicroRNAs are a class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs and the role of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of stroke has been studied. In this study, we found that miR-9 is downregulated in the mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) brain and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) neurons. Application of miR-9 gamer could restore the neurological scores and reduces the infarct volume, brain water content, and the behavioral impairments. Moreover, upregulation of miR-9 suppresses the neuronal apoptosis in MCAO brain and OGD neurons. Furthermore, we identified that Bcl2l11 as the direct target of miR-9 and manipulation of miR-9 induces the corresponding changing of Bcl2l11 protein level. Finally, we found that the protein level of Bcl2l11 is increased in the MCAO brain and OGD neurons. Our study demonstrated the critical role of miR-9 in the neuronal apoptosis of ischemic brain injury.