The Differentially Expressed Circular RNAs in the Substantia Nigra and Corpus Striatum of Nrf2-Knockout Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway plays a protective role in both acute neuronal damage and chronic neurodegeneration-related oxidative stress. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved with various diseases in the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed to identify the key circRNAs involved in Nrf2-neuroprotection against oxidative stress. METHODS: The differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum between Nrf2 (-/-) and Nrf2 (+/+) mice were identified by microarray analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was then used to validate the expression of selected DEcircRNAs in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum between Nrf2 (-/-) and Nrf2 (+/+) mice. Based on our previous microarray analysis of the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum between Nrf2 (-/-) and Nrf2 (+/+) mice, the DEcircRNA-miRNA-DEmRNA interaction network was constructed. Functional annotation of DEmRNAs that shared the same binding miRNAs with DEcircRNAs was performed using gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. RESULTS: A total of 65 and 150 significant DEcircRNAs were obtained in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum of Nrf2 (-/-) mice, respectively, and seventeen shared DEcircRNAs were found in both these two tissues. The qRT-PCR results were generally consistent with the microarray results. The DEcircRNA-miRNA-DEmRNA interaction network and pathway analysis indicated that mmu_circRNA_34132, mmu_circRNA_017077 and mmu-circRNA-015216 might be involved with Nrf2-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative stress. Mmu_circRNA_015216 and mmu_circRNA_017077 might play roles in the Nrf2-related transcriptional misregulation and Nrf2-mediated processes of rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. In addition to these two processes, mmu_circRNA_34132 may be a potential regulator of Nrf2-mediated protection for diabetes mellitus and Nrf2-mediated defence against ROS in hearts. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study identified the key DEcircRNAs in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum of Nrf2 (-/-) mice, which might provide new clues for further exploring the mechanism of Nrf2-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative stress and other Nrf2-mediated processes.

[Effect of Astaxanthin on Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Suspended Leukocyte-Depleted Red Blood Cells Stored for Transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of astaxanthin (ASTA) on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells stored for transfusion. METHODS: The suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells were randomly divided into group A, B, C and D. The ASTA was added into preservation solution of suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells of group B, C and D with the final concentration 5, 10 and 20 µmol/L, respectively, while DMSO was added into cells of group A in the same volume. After 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of storage, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in red blood cells was detected by fluorescence microplate reader, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was detected by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method, activity of SOD was detected by xanthine oxidase method, the activity of CAT was detected by visible light method, and activity of GSH-Px was detected by colorimetry. RESULTS: After 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of storage, the contents of ROS and MDA in suspended red blood cells of group B, C and D were significantly lower(P<0.05), while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were higher than those of group A(P<0.05); and CAT activity in cells treated by ASTA was significantly higher at 28 and 42 days of storage in comparison with that of group A(P<0.05). There were positive correlations between the ROS, MDA content in suspended red blood cells of group A, B, C, D and storage time(P<0.01), while negative correlation between SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activity and storage time(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ASTA can decrease the oxidative stress level and peroxide damage degree by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities in suspended leukocyte-depleted red blood cells during storage.

[Effect of astaxanthin on oxidative stress of red blood cells and peroxidation damage of membrane].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of astaxanthin (ASTA) on oxidative stress of intra- and extra- red blood cells during stored period and the protective function for cell membrane. METHODS: The blood of volunteers was collected to prepare suspended red blood cells without leukocytes. Then the red blood cells were randomly divided into group A, group B, group C and group D. The ASTA was added into MAP preservation solution of group B, group C and group D, the final concentration of ASTA was 5, 10 and 20 µmol/L respectively. Group A was used as control group, in which only the dissolved liquid DMSO of ASTA was added. The red blood cells were stored in refrigerator at 2 °C-6 °C. On day 7, 14, 28 and day 42 of storage, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in red blood cells was detected by fluorescence microplate reader. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected with TBA method. The content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) outside cell was detected with spectrophotometric method. The mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was detected with blood cell analyzer. The content of free hemoglobin(FHb) was detected with chemical colorimetry. RESULTS: The ROS, MDA, FHb and H2O2 levels in B, C and D groups were lower than those in control group during the stored period. On day 7 and 14 of storage, among group B, group C, group D and group A, the MCV showed no difference in comparison with control group. On day 28 and 42 of storage, the MCV in B, C and D groups was lower than that in control group. CONCLUSION: The ASTA can reduce the oxidative stress level of stored red blood cells inside and outside, relieve the peroxidation damage of cell membrane.

Reduction of Liver X Receptor ß expression in primary rat neurons by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides decreases secreted amyloid ß levels.

Ligand-activated Liver X Receptor (LXR) is known to increase cholesterol efflux from cells and reduce the production of amyloid ß (Aß) from amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP). However, little is known about the effects of LXRß, one subtype of LXR, on endogenous Aß. In this study, we show that LXRß inactivation with specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (As-ODN) significantly reduced secreted Aß and decreased mRNA levels of APP(751+770), and α-, ß-secretase (ADAM10, BACE1) in primary rat neurons. We also show that As-ODN down-regulated the LXR responsive genes ABCA1 and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). These changes are associated with decreased cellular cholesterol levels. The effect of LXRß inactivation on Aß levels is likely due to the alteration of cholesterol production and APP processing. Thus, our data suggest that LXRß has an important function in cholesterol homeostasis and endogenous Aß maintenance in neurons.