Long non-coding RNA CCAT1 promotes glioma cell proliferation via inhibiting microRNA-410.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Long non-coding RNAs have been confirmed to play a critical role in various cancers. In the present study, the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CCAT1 on glioma cell proliferation and its potential mechanism were investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Real-time PCR results showed that lncRNA-CCAT1 expression was significantly upregulated in glioma cancer tissues and cell lines compared with controls. After inhibiting CCAT1 expression in glioma cell line U251 with siRNA-CCAT1 (si-CCAT1), the cell viability and cell colony formation were decreased, the cell cycle was arrested in G1 phase, and the cell apoptosis was increased. As reported in bioinformatics software starbase2.0, a total of 22 microRNAs were potentially targeted by CCAT1. It was confirmed that miR-410 was altered most by si-CCAT1. After up-regulating CCAT1 expression in U251 cells, miR-410 level was decreased. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that CCAT1 targeted miR-410. Correlation analysis showed that CCAT1 expression was negatively related to miR-410 expression in glioma cancer tissues. In addition, down-regulation of miR-410 reversed the inhibitory effect of si-CCAT1 on glioma proliferation. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrated that lncRNA-CCAT1 promoted glioma cell proliferation via inhibiting miR-410, providing a new insight about the pathogenesis of glioma proliferation.

[Amplitude Changes of Low Frequency Fluctuation in Brain Spontaneous Nervous Activities Induced by Needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel].

OBJECTIVE: To observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel. METHODS: By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF). RESULTS: Under R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on. CONCLUSION: Needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

Beta-asarone protects against MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease via regulating long non-coding RNA MALAT1 and inhibiting α-synuclein protein expression.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have been identified in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). Emerging evidence demonstrates that ß-asarone functions as neuroprotective effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. However, the role of ß-asarone and its potential mechanism in PD remain not completely clear. METHODS: MPTP-induced PD mouse model and SH-SY5Y cells subjected to MPP+ as its in vitro model were used to evaluate the effects of ß-asarone on PD. LncRNA MALAT1 and α-synuclein expression were determined by real-time PCR and western blot methods. RESULTS: ß-Asarone significantly increased the TH+ cells number and decreased the expression levels of MALAT1 and α-synuclein in midbrain tissue of PD mice. RNA pull-down and immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that MALAT1 associated with α-synuclein, leading to the increased stability of α-synuclein and its expression in SH-SY5Y cells. ß-asarone elevated the viability of cells exposed to MPP+. Either overexpressed MALAT1 or α-synuclein could canceled the protective effect of ß-asarone on cell viability. In PD mice, pcDNA-MALAT1 also decreased the TH+ cells number and increased the α-synuclein expression in PD mice with treatment of ß-asarone. CONCLUSION: ß-Asarone functions as a neuroprotective effect in both in vivo and in vitro models of PD via regulating MALAT1 and α-synuclein expression.

MicroRNA-214 participates in the neuroprotective effect of Resveratrol via inhibiting α-synuclein expression in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mouse.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be involved in degenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). α-synuclein expression is strong associated with the pathogenesis of PD. In the present study, we investigated whether the regulation of α-synuclein expression by miR-214 is the potential mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of Resveratrol. METHODS: The PD mouse model was established with the injection of MPTP (1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) and the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, was administrated with MPP+. RESULTS: The midbrain of PD mice and MPP+ treated SH-SY5Y cells had the lower expression levels of miR-214 and higher mRNA and protein expression of α-synuclein, which were reversed by Resveratrol administration. MiR-214 mimic down-regulated expression of α-synuclein and its 3'-UTR activity, while the levels were up-regulated by miR-214 inhibitor. In addition, the cell viability, elevated by Resveratrol, was also decreased by miR-214 inhibitor or overexpressed α-synuclein. In vivo, miR-214 inhibitor down-regulated TH+ cells of ipsilateral and up-regulated α-synuclein expression compared with the group treated with Resveratrol. CONCLUSION: The loss of miR-214 in PD resulted in the increase of α-synuclein expression, which was the potential mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of Resveratrol.

TGF-ß induced miR-132 enhances the activation of TGF-ß signaling through inhibiting SMAD7 expression in glioma cells.

Transforming growth factors ß (TGF-ß) pathway has been proven to play important roles in oncogenesis and angiogenesis of gliomas. MiR-132 might be related to TGF-ß signaling pathway and high miR-132 expression was reported to be a biomarker of poor prognosis in patients diagnosed with glioma. However, the expression regulation way involved in TGF-ß pathway and clinical significance of miR-132 have not been investigated in glioma cells. Here we reported that the mRNA level of miR-132 and TGF-ß concentration were both increased in patients with brain glioma. Correlation analysis revealed that TGF-ß concentration was positively correlated with mRNA level of miR-132. In addition, the mRNA level of miR-132 was up-regulated by TGF-ß in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that miR-132 was involved in modulation of the TGF-ß signaling pathway and down-regulation of SMAD7 expression by directly targeting the SMAD7 3'-UTR. MiR-132 was negatively correlated with SMAD7 in patients with brain glioma. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-132 could be stimulated by TGF-ß and might enhance the activation of TGF-ß signaling through inhibiting SMAD7 expression in glioma cells. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism of the activation of TGF-ß signaling by miR-132.

[Effect of acupuncture at pericardium points of amplitude of low frequency fluctuations of healthy people in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at the whole points of Hand Jueyin pericardium meridian on the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of healthy people in resting state (R1) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS: Totally 16 healthy subjects received structure scan of T1 and T2. Then two fMRI scans were conducted for each participant. fMRI included the resting-state scan (R1; the scanning time was 8 min 6 s), the stimulating-acupoint scan (AP; the scanning time was 8 min 6 s). fMRI data acquisition from structure scanning and function scanning were processed with format conversion and statistical analysis. RESULTS: Under R1 state, brain regions with activated ALFF signals included bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus, superior temporal gyrus, and cingulate gyrus. Under the AP state, brain regions with activated ALFF signals were bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, precuneus, posterior cingulate, and declivis. Compared with R1 state, obvious difference of ALFF signal areas of the brain caused by acupuncture at pericardium were: bilateral cuneus, precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, and right occipital lingual gyrus. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at the whole points of Hand Jueyin pericardium meridian could significantly change inherent activity states of the cerebral cortex, especially in bilateral superior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, and precuneus.