The lncRNA H19 binding to let-7b promotes hippocampal glial cell activation and epileptic seizures by targeting Stat3 in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: Glial cell activation contributes to the inflammatory response and occurrence of epilepsy. Our preliminary study demonstrated that the long non-coding RNA, H19, promotes hippocampal glial cell activation during epileptogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: H19 and let-7b were overexpressed or silenced using an adeno-associated viral vector in vivo. Their expression in a kainic acid-induced epilepsy model was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA isolation. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate the direct binding of let-7b to its target genes and H19. Western blot, video camera monitoring and Morris water maze were performed to confirm the role of H19 and let7b on epileptogenesis. RESULTS: H19 was increased in rat hippocampus neurons after status epilepticus, which might be due to epileptic seizure-induced hypoxia. Increased H19 aggravated the epileptic seizures, memory impairment and mossy fibre sprouting of the epileptic rats. H19 could competitively bind to let-7b to suppress its expression. Overexpression of let-7b inhibited hippocampal glial cell activation, inflammatory response and epileptic seizures by targeting Stat3. Moreover, overexpressed H19 reversed the inhibitory effect of let-7b on glial cell activation. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA H19 could competitively bind to let-7b to promote hippocampal glial cell activation and epileptic seizures by targeting Stat3 in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Integrated transcriptome expression profiling reveals a novel lncRNA associated with L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common complication of chronic dopamine replacement therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Long noncoding RNAs regulate gene expression and participate in many biological processes. However, the role of long noncoding RNAs in LID is not well understood. In the present study, we examined the lncRNA transcriptome profile of a rat model of PD and LID by RNA sequence and got a subset of lncRNAs, which were gradually decreased during the development of PD and LID. We further identified a previously uncharacterized long noncoding RNA, NONRATT023402.2, and its target genes glutathione S-transferase omega (Gsto)2 and prostaglandin E receptor (Ptger)3. All of them were decreased in the PD and LID rats as shown by quantitative real-time PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization and western blotting. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that their expression was positively correlated with the dyskinesia score of LID rats. In vitro experiments by small interfering RNA confirmed that slicing NONRATT023402 inhibited Gsto2 and Ptger3 and promoted the inflammatory response. These results demonstrate that NONRATT023402.2 may have inhibitive effects on the development of PD and LID.

Xylarodons A and B, new hexaketides from the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. SC1440.

Two new hexaketides, xylarodons B (1) and C (2), were isolated from solid cultures of the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. SC1440. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of detailed 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS analysis. Their absolute configurations were established by experimental and TDDFT calculated ECD spectra. The isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic and tyrosinase inhibitory activity.