Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 Aggravates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing the Inhibitory Effect of miR-214 on PTEN.

BACKGROUND Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is a form of serious nervous system injury. Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway can effectively relieve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. miR-214 can target and inhibit the expression of PTEN, thereby alleviating its inhibitory effect on the PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, lncRNA NEAT1 was reported to affect proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells by targeting and suppressing the expression of miR-214. However, whether lncRNA NEAT1 affects the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage by regulating the miR-214/PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway is unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS The miR-214 agomir and miR-214 antagomir were designed and injected into the encephalocele of MCAO rats. Next, the production of oxidative stress kinase and apoptosis of brain cells were detected using commercial kits. The levels of PTEN, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and VEGF in brain tissues were determined. Next, the targeting effect of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-214 was determined with luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS Overexpression of miR-214 relieved the apoptosis and oxidative stress of brain tissues. Overexpression of miR-214 promoted the expression of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and VEGF by inhibiting the production of PTEN. However, overexpression of lncRNA NEAT1 repressed the remission effect of miR-214 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage and inhibited the production of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, and VEGF by rescuing the levels of PTEN. CONCLUSIONS lncRNA NEAT1 aggravates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by abolishing the activation effect of miR-214 on the PI3K/Akt pathway.