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MicroRNA-187 inhibits pentylenetetrazol-induced neuronal apoptosis and alleviates development of epilepsy in epileptic rats by regulating SPRY1 expression


Limei Diao
Haichun Yu
Shungui Wang
Qian Yu
Huaxia Li
Ling Lu
Xianqiu Liao
Huan Li
Xiaoqiang Qiu

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the role of microRNA-187 on the pathological process of epilepsy.


Methods: The seizure score of epileptic rats was evaluated according to Racine’s scale. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine the expression levels of microRNA-187 (miR-187). Western blot technique was conducted to assess the expression levels of caspase 3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)] and activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/PI3K/AKT cascade. Caspase 3 colorimetric assay kit was employed to evaluate the activity of caspase 3. Dual-luciferase reporter gene system was used to explore the regulating mechanisms of miR-187 and protein sprouty homolog 1 gene (SPRY1).


Results: The results showed that miR-187 was aberrantly downregulated in the hippocampus regions of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-treated rats compared to normal rats (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PTZ promoted caspase 3-dependent neuronal apoptosis by increasing the expression of pro-apoptosis protein PARP and decreasing the expression levels of BCL-2 in rats. On the other hand, overexpression of miR-187 downregulated SPRY1 as well as PTEN (p < 0.05), thereby activating the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Notably, the effects of upregulated miR-187 on neuronal apoptosis and epilepsy development in PTZ-induced rats was reversed by the concomitant overexpression of SPRY1 (p < 0.05).


Conclusion: The results of this research show that overexpressed miR-187 alleviates the development of PTZ-induced neuronal apoptosis and epilepsy in epileptic rat models by regulating SPRY1 expression. These findings can hopefully be beneficial for the discovery of new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy treatment.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996