MicroRNA-124-3p alleviates cerebral ischaemia-induced neuroaxonal damage by enhancing Nrep expression

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2023 Feb;32(2):106949. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106949. Epub 2022 Dec 17.

Abstract

Objective: Ischaemic stroke has a high death rate and frequently results in long-term and severe brain damage in survivors. miRNA-124-3p (miR-124-3p) treatment has been suggested to reduce ischaemia and play a vital function in avoiding neuron death. An investigation of the role of miR-124-3p, in the ischaemia damage repair or protection in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model, was the purpose of this research.

Methods: The expression of miRNA and mRNA in the MCAO model was predicted using bioinformatics analysis. The OGD/R neuronal model was developed. We examined the influence of a number of compounds on the OGD/R model in vitro using gain- and loss-of-function approaches.

Results: For starters, miR-124-3p and Nrep level in the MCAO model were found to be lower in the model predicted by bioinformatics than in the sham-operated group. And then in the OGD/R model, miR-124-3p treatment reduced OGD/R neuronal damage, increased neuronal survival, and reduced apoptosis in cell lines. Moreover, we further looked at the impact of miR-124-3p on downstream Rnf38 and Nrep using the OGD/R model. Western blot analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that miR-124-3p binds and inhibits Rnf38. Finally, although Nrep expression was reduced in the OGD/R model neuronal model, it was shown that miR-124-3p administration reduced apoptosis and increased neuronal activity, particularly with regard to axon regeneration-related proteins.

Conclusion: Our studies have shown that miR-124-3p may reduce neuronal injury by preventing Rnf38-mediated effects on the Nrep axis.

Keywords: Axonal damage; Bioinformatics prediction; Nrep; Oxygen-glucose deprivation; Rnf38; microRNA-124-3p.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Brain Injuries*
  • Brain Ischemia* / genetics
  • Brain Ischemia* / metabolism
  • Brain Ischemia* / therapy
  • Glucose
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / genetics
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / metabolism
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / therapy
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Oxygen
  • Reperfusion Injury* / genetics
  • Reperfusion Injury* / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury* / prevention & control
  • Stroke*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • Glucose
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oxygen
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Mirn124 microRNA, mouse