Silencing of circular RNA HIPK2 in neural stem cells enhances functional recovery following ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to be involved in central nervous system (CNS) diseases and to have a close connection with neuronal development. However, the role of circRNAs in neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation and the treatment of ischaemic stroke remains unknown. METHODS: Ischaemic stroke was induced in mice using transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). NSCs were transducted with circHIPK2 siRNA (si-circHIPK2-NSCs) or vehicle control (si-circCon-NSCs) and microinjected into lateral ventricle of brain at 7 d post-tMCAO. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to detect brain damage, and functional deficits were evaluated with sensorimotor behavioural tests. The distribution of the transplanted NSCs was investigated by near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIF) and immunofluorescence. The neural plasticity of si-circHIPK2-NSCs was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence in vivo and in vitro. FINDINGS: We investigated the role of circHIPK2 in NCS differentiation. In vitro, silencing of circHIPK2 facilitated NSCs directionally differentiated to neurons but had no effect on the differentiation to astrocytes. In vivo, microinjected NSCs could migrate to the ischaemic hemisphere after stroke induction. Si-circHIPK2-NSCs increased neuronal plasticity in the ischaemic brain, conferred long-lasting neuroprotection, and significantly reduced functional deficits. INTERPRETATIONS: Si-circHIPK2 regulates NSC differentiation, and microinjection of si-circHIPK2-NSCs exhibits a promising therapeutic strategy to neuroprotection and functional recovery after stroke. FUNDING: The National Key Research and Development Program of China; the International Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China; the National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Jiangsu Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team Program.

Circular RNA TLK1 Aggravates Neuronal Injury and Neurological Deficits after Ischemic Stroke via miR-335-3p/TIPARP.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are expressed at high levels in the brain and are involved in various CNS diseases. However, the potential role of circRNAs in ischemic stroke-associated neuronal injury remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the important functions of circRNA TLK1 (circTLK1) in this process. The levels of circTLK1 were significantly increased in brain tissues in a mouse model of focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Knockdown of circTLK1 significantly decreased infarct volumes, attenuated neuronal injury, and improved neurological deficits. Furthermore, circTLK1 functioned as an endogenous miR-335-3p sponge to inhibit miR-335-3p activity, resulting in the increase of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-inducible poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase expression and a subsequent exacerbation of neuronal injury. Clinical studies confirmed increased levels of circTLK1 in the plasma of patients with acute ischemic stroke (59 males and 12 females). Our findings reveal a detrimental role of circTLK1 in ischemic brain injury.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The extent of neuronal injury after brain ischemia is a primary factor determining stroke outcomes. However, the molecular switches that control the death of ischemic neurons are poorly understood. While our previous studies indicated the involvement of circRNAs in ischemic stroke, the potential role of circRNAs in neuronal injury remains largely unknown. The levels of circTLK1 were significantly increased in the brain tissue and plasma isolated from animal models of ischemic stroke and patients. Knockdown of circTLK1 significantly decreased infarct volumes, attenuated neuronal injury, and improved subsequent long-term neurological deficits. To our knowledge, these results provide the first definitive evidence that circTLK1 is detrimental in ischemic stroke.

1,4-Benzoxazine-3(4H)-ones as potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation: design, synthesis and structure-activity relations.

A series of novel potentially platelet aggregation-inhibiting 1,4-benzoxazine-3(4H)-one derivatives was designed and synthesized through Smiles rearrangement, reduction and acetylation reactions. The antiaggregatory activities of the target molecules on arterial blood samples from rabbits, expressed by IC50 values (µM), were then evaluated in vitro against ADP induced platelet aggregation. The favorable IC50 values of compound 8c (IC50=8.99 µM) and 8d (IC50=8.94 µM) indicated that these two compounds were the most potent molecules among all the synthesized compounds. A detailed molecular docking study to explore the interaction of compounds 8c and 8d with GP IIb/IIIa receptor showed that they these two compounds were docked into the active site of GPIIb/IIIa receptor. These results suggest that the 1,4-benzoxazine-3(4H)-one derivatives are promising lead compounds to develop new platelet aggregation inhibitors.