Vi4-miR-185-5p-Igfbp3 Network Protects the Brain From Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Injury via Promoting Neuron Survival and Suppressing the Cell Apoptosis

LncRNA TCONS_00067339 as a key regulatory factor inducing decreased cell viability and ferroptosis in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Newborn hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is a major cause of mortality and neurological disabilities. Ferroptosis, characterized by lipid peroxidation, is implicated in HIBD pathogenesis. The role of lncRNA TCONS_00067339 in ferroptosis regulation in HIBD is understudied. This study investigates its mechanisms using a HIBD rat model and PC12 high differentiation cells oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. We identified upregulated lncRNA TCONS_00067339 in HIBD, associated with cells viability and ferroptosis-related mitochondrial changes. RNA sequencing revealed differential lncRNA expression in hippocampal, and enrichment analyses suggested involvement in ferroptosis pathways. Knockdown of lncRNA TCONS_00067339 increased OGD-treated PC12 cells viability and reduced cell death. These findings indicate that lncRNA TCONS_00067339 is a key regulator in ferroptosis and cell survival in HIBD, offering a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Protopine Exerts Neuroprotective Effects on Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats via Activation of the AMPK/PGC1α Pathway

Introduction

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), caused by perinatal asphyxia, is characterized by high morbidity and mortality, but there are still no effective therapeutic drugs. Mitochondrial biogenesis and apoptosis play key roles in the pathogenesis of HIE. Protopine (Pro), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has anti-apoptotic and neuro-protective effects. However, the protective roles of Pro on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury remain unclear.

Methods

In this study, we established a CoCl2-induced PC12 cell model in vitro and a neonatal rat hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain damage model in vivo to explore the neuro-protective effects of Pro and try to elucidate the potential mechanisms.

Results

Our results showed that Pro significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, alleviated brain edema, inhibited glia activation, improved mitochondrial biogenesis, relieved neuron cell loss, decreased cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) after HI damage. In addition, Pro intervention upregulated the levels of p-AMPK/AMPK and PGC1α as well as the downstream mitochondrial biogenesis related factors, such as nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), but the AMPK inhibitor compound c (CC) could significantly reverse these effects of Pro.

Discussion

Pro may exert neuroprotective effects on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via activation of the AMPK/PGC1α pathway, suggesting that Pro may be a promising therapeutic candidate for HIE, and our study firstly demonstrate the neuro-protective roles of Pro in HIE models.

Transplantation of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for repair of neurological damage in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202409000-00035/figure1/v/2024-01-16T170235Z/r/image-tiff Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is often associated with permanent cerebral palsy, neurosensory impairments, and cognitive deficits, and there is no effective treatment for complications related to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The therapeutic potential of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for various diseases has been explored. However, the potential use of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy has not yet been investigated. In this study, we injected human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the lateral ventricle of a neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy rat model and observed significant improvements in both cognitive and motor function. Protein chip analysis showed that interleukin-3 expression was significantly elevated in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model rats. Following transplantation of human placental chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells, interleukin-3 expression was downregulated. To further investigate the role of interleukin-3 in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, we established an in vitro SH-SY5Y cell model of hypoxic-ischemic injury through oxygen-glucose deprivation and silenced interleukin-3 expression using small interfering RNA. We found that the activity and proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation were further suppressed by interleukin-3 knockdown. Furthermore, interleukin-3 knockout exacerbated neuronal damage and cognitive and motor function impairment in rat models of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The findings suggest that transplantation of hpcMSCs ameliorated behavioral impairments in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and this effect was mediated by interleukin-3-dependent neurological function.

Profiling and Bioinformatics Analyses of Hypoxia-Induced Differential Expression of Long Non-coding RNA in Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells

Hypoxic microenvironments are intricately linked to malignant characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the progression of GBM and closely associated with hypoxia. Nevertheless, the differential expression profiles as well as functional roles of lncRNAs in GBM cells under hypoxic conditions remain largely obscure. We explored the expression profiles of lncRNAs in hypoxic U87 cells as well as T98G cells using sequencing analysis. The effect of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) was assessed through bioinformatic analysis. Furthermore, the expression of lncRNAs significantly dysregulated in both U87 and T98G cells was further validated using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Relevant cell functional experiments were also conducted. We used predicted RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to construct an interaction network via the interaction prediction module. U87 and T98G cells showed dysregulation of 1115 and 597 lncRNAs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that altered lncRNA expression was associated with nucleotide-excision repair and cell metabolism in GBM cells. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed the association between dysregulated lncRNAs and the Hippo signaling pathway under hypoxia. The dysregulation of six selected lncRNAs (ENST00000371192, uc003tnq.3, ENST00000262952, ENST00000609350, ENST00000610036, and NR_046262) was validated by qRT-PCR. Investigation of lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA networks centered on HIF-1α demonstrated cross-talk between the six validated lncRNAs and 16 related miRNAs. Functional experiments showed the significant inhibition of GBM cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by the knockdown of uc003tnq.3 in vitro. Additionally, uc003tnq.3 was used to construct a comprehensive RBP-transcription factor (TF)-miRNA interaction network. The expression of LncRNAs was dysregulated in GBM cells under hypoxic conditions. The identified six lncRNAs might exert important effect on the development of GBM under hypoxic microenvironment.

A novel strategy of integrating network pharmacology and transcriptome reveals antiapoptotic mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treating intracerebral hemorrhage

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), as a traditional Chinese medical prescription, has been used to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) for hundreds of years, but the antiapoptotic properties have not yet been studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to elucidate the antiapoptotic mechanism of BYHWD in ICH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The therapeutic effect of BYHWD on ICH was assessed by modified neurological severity scores (mNSS), foot fault, and histopathological staining. Then, we used a modified comprehensive strategy by integrating transcriptome and network pharmacology to reveal the underlying mechanism. TUNEL assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot were further applied to evaluate the antiapoptotic effect of BYHWD on ICH. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and plasmid transfections were implemented to validate the potential competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) mechanism of Sh2b3.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the regulation of the apoptotic process was the highest enriched GO term, and that MAP kinase activity, ERK1, and ERK2 cascade were strongly correlated. Transcriptome analysis screened 180 differentially expressed mRNAs, which were highly enriched in the immune system process and negative regulation of programmed cell death. By checking the literature, we found that Sh2b3 was of great importance to apoptosis by modulating MAPK cascades. TUNEL assay validated the anti-apoptotic effect of BYHWD. Moreover, BYHWD was proven to regulate the Sh2b3-mediated ERK1/2 signaling pathway in ICH mice by qRT-PCR and western blot. We further explored the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network underlying the therapeutic effect, among which 4933404O12Rik/miR-185-5p is the upstream regulatory mechanism of Sh2b3.

CONCLUSIONS

We explored the antiapoptotic mechanism of BYHWD in treating ICH by a novel integrated strategy, which involved the 4933404O12Rik/miR-185-5p/Sh2b3 ceRNAs axis.

The neuroprotective mechanisms of naringenin: Inhibition of apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Naringenin (NGN) is a widely distributed flavonoid with potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. Neuroprotective agents play a crucial role in the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It has shown potential therapeutic effects for neurological disorders. However, its efficacy on HIE is yet to be investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of naringenin and its underlying molecular mechanisms in reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and improving brain outcomes following HIE. Additionally, the study aims to identify the potential targets, mechanisms, and functions of naringenin using network pharmacology analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Neonatal mice were exposed to the hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model to determine brain water content, and brain tissue was subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (HE), immunohistochemistry (IHC), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Nissl staining to investigate its neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, the neonatal mouse primary neuron oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitro. The protein levels were characterized by Western Blot, and mRNA levels were evaluated by a real-time quantitative PCR detecting system (qPCR). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mitochondrial fluorescent staining were used to observe mitochondrial morphology. Neuronal nuclei (NeuN) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) were detected by Immunofluorescence (IF). Finally, network pharmacology was employed to determine the common target of naringenin and HIE. The core genes were obtained via protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) analysis and molecular docking was examined, and the mechanism of action was explored through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Additionally, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was constructed for verification.

RESULTS

Naringenin has a neuroprotective effect in HIBD by modulating Vegfa expression and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway to inhibit apoptosis. Furthermore, molecular docking results suggest that Vegfa is a potential binding target of naringenin, and silencing Vegfa partially reverses the pharmacological effects of NGN.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that naringenin demonstrates potential clinical application for treating HIE as a novel neuroprotective agent.

LncRNAs and CircRNAs as Strategies against Pathological Conditions Caused by a Hypoxic/Anoxic State

Brain damage can be induced by oxygen deprivation. It is known that hypoxic or anoxic conditions can lead to changes in the expression levels of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which, in turn, can be related to Central Nervous System (CNS) injuries. Therefore, it could be useful to investigate the involvement of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as well as the underlying mechanisms which are able to modulate them in brain damage induced by hypoxic or anoxic conditions. In this review, we focused on recent research that associates these conditions with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). The results of this review demonstrate that the expression of both lncRNAs and circRNAs can be influenced by oxygen deprivation conditions and so they can contribute to inducing damage or providing neuroprotection by affecting specific molecular pathways. Furthermore, several experimental studies have shown that ncRNA activity can be regulated by compounds, thus also modifying their transcriptomic profile and their effects on CNS damages induced by hypoxic/anoxic events.

NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes and peripheral neuropathic pain - Emphasis on microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators

Neuropathic pain is caused by the lesion or disease of the somatosensory system and can be initiated and/or maintained by both central and peripheral mechanisms. Nerve injury leads to neuronal damage and apoptosis associated with the release of an array of pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns to activate inflammasomes. The activation of the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome contributes to neuropathic pain and may represent a novel target for pain therapeutic development. In the current review, we provide an up-to-date summary of the recent findings on the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in modulating neuropathic pain development and maintenance, focusing on peripheral neuropathic conditions. Here we provide a detailed review of the mechanisms whereby NLRP3 inflammasomes contribute to neuropathic pain via (1) neuroinflammation, (2) apoptosis, (3) pyroptosis, (4) proinflammatory cytokine release, (5) mitochondrial dysfunction, and (6) oxidative stress. We then present the current research literature reporting on the antinociceptive effects of several natural products and pharmacological interventions that target activation, expression, and/or regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, we emphasize the effects of microRNAs as another regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome. In conclusion, we summarize the possible caveats and future perspectives that might provide successful therapeutic approaches against NLRP3 inflammasome for treating or preventing neuropathic pain conditions.

Circulating microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for ischemic stroke: evidence from comprehensive analysis and real-world validation

Ischemic stroke (IS) is the majority of strokes which remain the second leading cause of deaths in the last two decades. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools for IS by previous studies analyzing their differential expression. However, inconclusive and controversial conclusions of these results have to be addressed. In this study, comprehensive analysis and real-world validation were performed to assess the associations between circulating miRNAs and IS. 29 studies with 112 miRNAs were extracted after manual selection and filtering, 12 differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained from our results of meta-analysis. These miRNAs were evaluated in 20 IS patients, compared to 20 healthy subjects. 4 miRNAs (hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p) exhibited the significant expression level in IS patient plasma samples. Pathway and biological process enrichment analysis for the target genes of the 4 validated miRNAs identified cellular senescence and neuroinflammation as key post-IS response pathways. The results of our analyses closely correlated with the pathogenesis and implicated pathways observed in IS subjects suggested by the literature, which may provide aid in the development of circulating diagnostic or therapeutic targets for IS patients.

MicroRNA therapeutic targets in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: a narrative review

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a devastating injury resulting from impaired blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain at or around the time of birth. Despite the use of therapeutic hypothermia, more than one in four survivors suffer from major developmental disabilities-an indication of the critical need for more effective therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNA) have the potential to act as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in neonatal HIBI as a step toward improving outcomes in this high-risk population. This review summarizes the current literature around the use of cord blood and postnatal circulating blood miRNA expression for diagnosis or prognosis in human infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, as well as animal studies assessing endogenous brain miRNA expression and potential for therapeutic targeting of miRNA expression for neuroprotection. Ultimately, the lack of knowledge regarding brain specificity of circulating miRNAs and the temporal variability in expression currently limit the use of miRNAs as biomarkers. However, given their broad effect profile, ease of administration, and small size allowing for effective blood-brain barrier crossing, miRNAs represent promising therapeutic targets for improving brain injury and reducing developmental impairments in neonates after HIBI. IMPACT: The high morbidity and mortality of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) despite current therapies demonstrates a need for developing more sensitive biomarkers and superior therapeutic options. MicroRNAs have been evaluated both as biomarkers and therapeutic options after neonatal HIBI. The limited knowledge regarding brain specificity of circulating microRNAs and temporal variability in expression currently limit the use of microRNAs as biomarkers. Future studies comparing the neuroprotective effects of modulating microRNA expression must consider temporal changes in the endogenous expression to determine appropriate timing of therapy, while also optimizing techniques for delivery.

TNF-α interference ameliorates brain damage in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy rats by regulating the expression of NT-3 and TRKC

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibition in rats with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and ascertain the relevant signaling pathways. The Zea-Longa score was used to evaluate the neurological function of the rats. ImageJ was used for quantification of the brain edema volume. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of brain tissue was performed 24 h after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) to detect right brain infarction. The expression of TNF-α was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the localization of TNF-α; Then, the effective shRNA fragment of TNF-α was used to validate the role of TNF-α in HIE rats, and the change of neurotrofin-3 (NT-3) and tyrosine kinase receptor-C (TRKC) was examined after TNF-α-shRNA lentivirus transfection to determine downstream signaling associated with TNF-α. Protein interaction analysis was carried out to predict the links among TNF-α, NT-3, and TRKC. Cerebral edema volume and infarction increased in the right brain after the HI operation. The Zea-Longa score significantly increased within 24 h after the HI operation. The relative expression of TNF-α was upregulated after the HI operation. TNF-α was highly expressed in the right hippocampus post HI through immunofluorescence staining. Bioinformatics analysis found a direct or an indirect link among TNF-α, NT-3, and TRKC. Moreover, the interference of TNF-α increased the expression of NT-3 and TRKC. TNF-α interference might alleviate brain injury in HIE by upregulating NT-3 and TRKC.

Suppression of SAMSN1 contributes to neuroprotection in neonatal rats suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injury

This article aims to detect the effect of SAM domain, SH3 domain, and nuclear localization signal 1 (SAMSN1) in neonatal rats with neurological dysfunction induced by hypoxia and ischemia (HI). The HI model was created using 7-day postnatal rats. Zea-longa score was utilized to validate the neurological injury after HI. Then, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected by gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis methods. The oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) models were established in the SY5Y cells and fetal human cortical neurons. In addition, SAMSN1-small interfering RNA, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, and cell growth curve were employed to evaluate the cell viability variation. Obviously, Zea-longa scores increased in rats with HI insult. Subsequently, SAMSN1 was screened out, and it was found that SAMSN1 was strikingly upregulated in SY5Y cells and fetal neurons post-OGD. Interestingly, we found that SAMSN1 silencing could markedly enhance cell viability and cell growth after OGD. These data suggested that downregulation of SAMSN1 may exert a neuroprotective effect on damaged neurons after HI by improving cell viability and cell survival, which provides a potential theoretical basis for clinical trials in the future to treat neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Exploring the Ferroptosis Mechanism of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule for the Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Based on Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Validation

Objective. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of the Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZL) capsule in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) via targeting ferroptosis based on network pharmacology. Methods. The active ingredients and related key targets of the ZL capsule were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were also performed. Finally, identified targets were validated in an in-vivo model of ICH. Results. A total of 30 active ingredients and 33 intersecting targets were identified through a TCMSP database search. Ingredients-Targets-Pathways network was constructed to filter out the key targets according to the degree value. TP53 was selected as the key target. The in-vivo validation studies demonstrated that TP53 was down-regulated and GPX4 was upregulated in rats following ZL capsule treatment. Conclusions. It is concluded that the ZL capsule could alleviate ICH in a muti-target and multi-pathway manner. ZL capsule could alleviate ICH by inhibiting ferroptosis, and TP53 is identified to be the potential target. Further research is needed to clarify the detailed anti-ferroptotic mechanism of the ZL capsule.

Knockdown of interleukin-6 plays a neuroprotective role against hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats via inhibition of caspase 3 and Bcl-2-associated X protein signaling pathway

This study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used for the establishment of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) model. The Zea-Longa scoring was used to evaluate the extent of the neurological deficits. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to measure the volume of infarction in the brain following HI protocol. The expression of IL-6 in the cortex and/or hippocampus at multiple time points after HI was examined by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Moreover, small interfering RNAs (siRNA) were used to inhibit the expression of IL-6 in-vitro and in-vivo, and the concomitant expression of the Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX) and caspase 3 was also measured. HI induced a significant brain damage, and these pathological changes were accompanied by IL-6 upregulation which was found localized in cortical neurons. The inhibition of IL-6 expression fostered neuronal and axonal growth, and a reduction in cellular apoptosis in cortical neuronal cultures, and cortex and hippocampus of neonatal rats. The expression of apoptotic markers such as BAX and caspase 3 was closely associated with IL-6. Downregulation of IL-6 could ameliorate HI-induced deficiencies by mediating the expression of caspase 3 and BAX.

The alternative 3' splice site of GPNMB may promote neuronal survival after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injury

This study aimed to decipher the effect of glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) and its potential molecular mechanism. The hypoxic-ischemic (HI) model was established in 7-day-old rats, and then, Zea-Longa scores and Nissl staining were performed to measure brain damage post-HI. In addition, gene sequencing was used to detect the differential expression genes (DEGs), and then, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases were used to determine the function of DEGs. Furthermore, an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was developed in SY5Y cells and human fetal neurons, and then, the level of GPNMB was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and cell counting kit-8 assays were applied after GPNMB interference. Finally, the alternative splicing of GPNMB expression was analyzed using Splice Grapher software. The results indicated that HI induced marked neurological impairment and neuron injury in rats. Also, GPNMB was the most obviously upregulated gene in DEGs. Additionally, GPNMB was upregulated significantly in SY5Y and fetal neurons after OGD, and GPNMB-si promoted an increase in cell viability and number. Moreover, we found that the GPNMB alternative splicing type was the Alternative 3' splice site, with the alternative splicing site in 143382985:143404102. Herein, GPNMB promotes a crucial regulatory mechanism with alternative splicing for neuronal survival after NHIE.

Downregulating EVA1C exerts the potential to promote neuron growth after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injury associated with alternative splicing

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) is one of the major diseases in newborns during the perinatal stage, which globally is the main reason for children's morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanism of NHIE still remains poorly clear. In this study, the 7-day-old rats were subjected to hypoxic-ischemia (HI), then brain damage was detected. Afterward, the expression of eva-1 homolog C (EVA1C) was measured in vitro by establishing the oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in SHSY5Y cells and human fetal neurons. Subsequently, the potential function and mechanism of EVA1C were explored by silencing EVA1C and alternative splicing prediction. As a result, obvious neurobehavioral impairment and brain infarction were detected through Zea-Longa score and TTC staining; meanwhile, neuron injury was tested by HE and Nissl staining post HI. Moreover, it was found that the expression of EVA1C was notably upregulated in SHSY5Y cells and human fetal neurons after OGD. In addition, cell survival and growth were increased after silencing EVA1C, which might be associated with alternative splicing. In conclusion, EVA1C interference exhibited potential in promoting neuron survival and growth, associated with exon skipping with the alternative splicing site in 34613318:34687258, which may provide the basis for the therapeutic target and mechanism research of NHIE.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates the hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via miR-20a-5p/methionine adenosyltransferase 2B axis in rat pups

OBJECTIVE

The neuroprotective effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been demonstrated in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) animal models, the mechanism of which will be the foothold in this work.

METHODS

After establishment of HIBD rat model, the rats were treated with DEX, miR-20a-5p agomir and adenoviral methionine adenosyltransferase 2B (MAT2B) overexpression vector, and then their brain tissues were harvested. The infarction volume and pathological changes of these brain tissues were measured using the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), Nissl and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stainings. The levels of miR-20a-5p, Bcl-2, Bax and MAT2B in these brain tissues were detected by Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot. The binding sites of MAT2B and miR-20a-5p were predicted using the TargetScan and verified using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The memory deficits and spatial learning of rat pups were assessed by Morris water maze test.

RESULTS

MiR-20a-5p expression was upregulated, while MAT2B expression was downregulated in rats with HIBD. MAT2B was targeted by miR-20a-5p. DEX treatment improved the neurons and hippocampal tissue damage and decreased miR-20a-5p level in brain tissues of rats with HIBD. MiR-20a-5p overexpression overturned the protective effect of DEX on brain tissues and learning and memory abilities in rats with HIBD. Moreover, DEX promoted Bcl-2 level while inhibiting Bax level in HIBD rats' brain tissues. Besides, overexpressed MAT2B reversed the effect of overexpressed miR-20a-5p on the levels of MAT2B, Bcl-2 and Bax, brain tissue damage, as well as the learning and memory abilities in rats with HIBD.

CONCLUSION

DEX alleviated HIBD via the miR-20a-5p/MAT2B axis in rats.

Differences between cultured cortical neurons by trypsin and papain digestion

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of trypsin and papain in neuronal digestion and determine which enzyme is more efficient. Cortical tissues were obtained from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. According to the different digestive enzymes, the samples were divided into the trypsin group and the papain group. After being digested by each of the two enzymes, cortical neurons were collected from the samples. Then, the morphology of the cortical neurons was determined. Moreover, the cortical neurons were transfected with the negative control (NC) lentivirus. The transfection efficiency and morphology were determined and compared. Compared with the papain group, cortical neurons in the trypsin group were more in number, had larger cell size, had longer axonal length, and had fewer impurities. The transfection efficiency of the trypsin group (57.77%) was higher than that of the papain group (53.83%). The morphology of neurons that was displayed showed that the cell body of most neurons shrank and became smaller, and the axis mutation became shorter and less in the papain group 6 days after transfection with the NC lentivirus. Trypsin is more efficient in digesting neurons because the neurons digested by this enzyme are more in number, have a larger cell body, longer axons, and greater transfection efficiency.

CREG mitigates neonatal HIE injury through survival promotion and apoptosis inhibition in hippocampal neurons via activating AKT signaling

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (Neonatal HIE) is a common but serious disease caused by perinatal asphyxia injury in newborns. Elevated neuronal apoptosis plays an important role in the injury process post hypoxia ischemia of the brain, which accurate mechanism is still worthy to be studied. Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) possesses the protective effect in ischemia-reperfusion in multiple organs, including livers and hearts. The main purpose of this work was to investigate whether CREG was involved in alleviating neonatal HIE and explore the possible mechanisms. We found that CREG expression was down-regulated in the hippocampus of neonatal HIE rats as well as oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated hippocampal neurons. Besides, CREG overexpression promoted survival while inhibited apoptosis in OGD/R-induced hippocampal neurons accompanied by AKT signaling activation, which could be reversed by CREG silence. In addition, the protective effects of CREG overexpression could be antagonized by AKT deactivation, indicating the function of CREG was attributed by regulating AKT pathway. Collectedly, we demonstrated that CREG protected hippocampal neurons from hypoxic ischemia-induced injury through regulating survival and apoptosis via activating AKT signaling pathway. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

MiR-22-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Differentiation of Skeletal Muscle Cells by Targeting IGFBP3 in Hu Sheep

The growth and development of skeletal muscle require a series of regulatory factors. MiRNA is a non-coding RNA with a length of about 22 nt, which can inhibit the expression of mRNA and plays an important role in the growth and development of muscle cells. The role of miR-22-3p in C2C12 cells and porcine skeletal muscle has been reported, but it has not been verified in Hu sheep skeletal muscle. Through qPCR, CCK-8, EdU and cell cycle studies, we found that overexpression of miR-22-3p inhibited proliferation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01). The results of qPCR and immunofluorescence showed that overexpression of miR-22-3p promoted differentiation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01), while the results of inhibiting the expression of miR-22-3p were the opposite. These results suggested that miR-22-3p functions in growth and development of sheep skeletal muscle cells. Bioinformatic analysis with mirDIP, miRTargets, and RNAhybrid software suggested IGFBP3 was the target of miR-22-3p, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter system assay. IGFBP3 is highly expressed in sheep skeletal muscle cells. Overexpression of IGFBP3 was found to promote proliferation of skeletal muscle cells indicated by qPCR, CCK-8, EdU, and cell cycle studies (p < 0.01). The results of qPCR and immunofluorescence experiments proved that overexpression of IGFBP3 inhibited differentiation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01), while the results of interfering IGFBP3 with siRNA were the opposite. These results indicate that miR-22-3p is involved in proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells by targeting IGFBP3.

RNA-seq analysis reveals potential molecular mechanisms of ZNF580/ZFP580 promoting neuronal survival and inhibiting apoptosis after Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is one of the main causes of neonatal acute death and chronic nervous system impairment, but still lacks effective treatments. ZNF580/ZFP580, reported in our previous studies, may be a newly identified member of the Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family, and has anti-apoptotic effects during ischemic myocardial injury. In the present study, we showed that the expression levels of both ZFP580/ZNF580 mRNA and protein increased significantly in neonatal HIBD rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) SH-SY5Y cell models. ZNF580 overexpression promoted neuron survival and suppressed neuron apoptosis after OGD in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells, while interference with ZNF580 resulted in the opposite results. RNA-seq analysis identified 248 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between ZNF580 overexpression SH-SY5Y cells and interference-expressed SH-SY5Y cells. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs played significant roles in the growth, development, and regeneration of axons, DNA biosynthetic processes, DNA replication, and apoptosis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs were found in some pathways, including ferroptosis, glutamatergic synapses, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, estrogen signaling pathways, the TGF-beta signaling pathway, and the longevity regulating pathway. The qRT-PCR validation results were consistent with RNA-seq results, which showed that HSPA5, IGFBP3, NTN4, and KLF9 increased in ZNF580-overexpressed SH-SY5Y cells and decreased in interference-expressed SH-SY5Y cells, when compared with normal cells. Together, the results suggested that ZNF580 targeted these genes to inhibit neuronal apoptosis.

Scutellarin ameliorates neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy associated with GAP43-dependent signaling pathway

Background

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) refers to the perinatal asphyxia caused by the cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury. The current study was aimed at investigating the therapeutic efficacy of Scutellarin (Scu) administration on neurological impairments induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury and exploring the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Primary cortical neurons were cultured and subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD), and then treated with Scu administration. The growth status of neurons was observed by immunofluorescence staining of TUJ1 and TUNEL. Besides, the mRNA level of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) in OGD neurons with Scu treatment was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To further verify the role of GAP43 in Scu treatment, GAP43 siRNA and knockout were applied in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, behavioral evaluations were performed to elucidate the function of GAP43 in the Scu-ameliorated long-term neurological impairments caused by HI insult. The underlying biological mechanism of Scu treatment was further elucidated via network pharmacological analysis. Finally, the interactive genes with GAP43 were identified by Gene MANIA and further validated by qRT-PCR.

Results

Our data demonstrated that Scu treatment increased the number of neurons and axon growth, and suppressed cell apoptosis in vitro. And the expression of GAP43 was downregulated after OGD, but reversed by Scu administration. Besides, GAP43 silencing aggravated the Scu-ameliorated neuronal death and axonal damage. Meanwhile, GAP43 knockout enlarged brain infarct area and deteriorated the cognitive and motor dysfunctions of HI rats. Further, network pharmacological analysis revealed the drug targets of Scu participated in such biological processes as neuronal death and regulation of neuronal death, and apoptosis-related pathways. GAP43 exhibited close relationship with PTN, JAK2 and STAT3, and GAP43 silencing upregulated the levels of PTN, JAK2 and STAT3.

Conclusions

Collectively, our findings revealed Scu treatment attenuated long-term neurological impairments after HI by suppressing neuronal death and enhancing neurite elongation through GAP43-dependent pathway. The crucial role of Scutellarin in neuroprotection provided a novel possible therapeutic agent for the treatment of neonatal HIE.

Graphic abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-021-00517-z.

LncRNA TCONS_00041002 improves neurological outcomes in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting neuron survival

It has been reported that Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) could induce apoptosis in neonates and result in cognitive and sensory impairments, which are associated with poor developmental outcomes. Despite the improvement in neonatology, there is still no clinically effective treatment for HIE presently. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in cellular homeostasis. Nevertheless, their effects in developing rat brains with HI is little known. Here, we established HIE model in neonate rats and explored the expression and function of lncRNAs in HI, and found the expression of 19 lncRNAs was remarkably changed in the brains of HI rats, compared to the sham group. Among them, three lncRNAs (TCONS_00041002, TCONS_00070547, TCONS_00045572) were enriched in the apoptotic process via gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis, which were selected for the further qRT-PCR verification. Through lentivirus-mediated overexpression of these three lncRNAs, we found that overexpression of TCONS_00041002 attenuated the cell apoptosis, and increased the vitality of neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), therefore reduced the brain infarction and further promoted the neuron survival as well as improved the neurological disorders in the rats subjected to HIE. What's more, ceRNA network prediction and co-expression verification showed that the expression of TCONS_00041002 was positively associated with Foxe1, Pawr and Nfkbiz. Altogether, this study has exhibited that lncRNA TCONS_00041002 participates in the cell apoptosis and neuronal survival of HIE and represents a potential new target for the treatment of HIE.

Interleukin 10 Plays an Important Role in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic-Ischemia Associated with B-Cell Lymphoma 2 and Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein 29

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a synthetic inhibitor of human cytokines with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to investigate the expression variation of IL-10 in the multiple sites including cortex, hippocampus, and lung tissues of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) rats and explore the crucial role of IL-10 in alleviating HI brain damage. In this study, neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the right common carotid artery ligation, followed by 2 h of hypoxia. The expression of IL-10 in the cortex, hippocampus, and lung tissues was measured with immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot (WB). Immunofluorescence double staining was performed to observe the localization of IL-10 in neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, not-targeting and targeting IL-10 siRNA lentivirus vectors were injected into the rats of the negative control (NC) and IL-10 group, respectively, and the mRNA levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29) were detected by RT-qPCR following IL-10 silence. The results demonstrated that the IL-10 expression was markedly increased after HI and IL-10 were colocalized with neurons and astrocytes which were badly injured by HI insult. In addition, Bcl-2 and ERp29 were remarkably decreased following IL-10 mRNA interference compared with the NC group. Our findings revealed that IL-10 exerted its antiapoptotic and neuroprotective effects by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and ERp29, indicating that IL-10 may be a promising molecule target for HIE treatment.