Title:Upregulated Long Non-coding RNA ALMS1-IT1 Promotes Neuroinflammation by Activating NF-κB Signaling in Ischemic Cerebral Injury
Volume: 27
Issue: 41
Author(s): Peng Lu*, Ye Zhang, Huanjiang Niu and Yirong Wang
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 310016,China
Keywords:
Ischemic cerebral injury, neuro-inflammation, MCAO, NF-κB, ALMS1-IT1, mNSS.
Abstract:
Background: ALMS1-IT1, a recently identified lncRNA, has been proven to play a crucial role in
regulating tumor progression and predicting the survival time of tumor patients. Data analysis from the Human
Body Map (HBM) revealed that ALMS1-IT1 is expressed mainly in brain tissues.
Methods: In this study, the role of ALMS1-IT in regulating neuro-inflammation and functional recovery was investigated
after ischemic cerebral damage. To this end, the rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion
(tMCAO) was constructed, the cell model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was established using
BV2 microglial cells, and the aberrant expression of ALMS1-IT1 was assessed in brain tissues. After ALMS1-
IT1 knockdown through intrathecal injection of Lv-shALMS1-IT1, neuro-inflammatory response and functional
tests including a modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and a foot-fault test were assessed.
Results: The level of ALMS1-IT1 was promptly enhanced at 12 hours (h) following MCAO, peaking at 48 h,
and remaining high at day 14 compared to the sham group. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-
α) were increased after MCAO, whereas ALMS1-IT1 inhibition suppressed the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and
TNF-α in MCAO rats. The results from mNSS and foot-fault test showed that ALMS1-IT1 knockdown significantly
improved spatial learning and sensorimotor function of MCAO rats. Mechanistically, ALMS1-IT1
knockdown suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by decreased p65
expression and p65 nuclear translocation. ALMS1-IT1 overexpression facilitated pro-inflammatory cytokines
expression in microglia, whereas the effect was blocked by treatment with JSH-23 (a specific NF-κB inhibitor).
Conclusion: These data demonstrated that ALMS1-IT1 inhibition improved neurological function of MCAO
rats, at least in part by repressing NF-κB-dependent neuro-inflammation.
