Role of GRSF1 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice: relationship with ferroptosis / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the role of G-rich RNA sequence binding factor 1 (GRSF1) in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice and the relationship with ferroptosis.Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), cerebral I/R group (IR group), cerebral I/R+ GRSF1 overexpression group (IR+ LV-GRSF1 group), and cerebral I/R+ GRSF1 overexpression+ glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibitor group (IR+ LV-GRSF1+ RSL3 group). The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was developed by thread-occlusion method in anesthetized animals. In IR+ LV-GRSF1 group, GRSF1-overexpressed lentivirus 2 μl was injected into the lateral ventricle at 7 days before the development of the model. GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 2 consecutive days before the development of the model in IR+ LV-GRSF1+ RSL3 group. After 24 h of reperfusion, the percentage of cerebral infarction volume was determined by TTC assay, the survival neurons in ischemic area were detected by Nissl staining, and brain tissues in ischemic area were obtained for determination of the expression of p16, p21(markers of senescence) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, senescence-associated secretory phenotype) mRNA (by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione (GSH) (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of GRSF1, GPX4, Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and ferritin (by Western blot). Results:Compared with Sham group, the percentage of cerebral infarction volume was significantly increased, the count of viable neurons was decreased, the expression of p16, p21 and TNF-α mRNA in ischemic brain tissues was up-regulated, SOD and GSH contents were decreased, the MDA content was increased, the expression of GRSF1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and ferritin was up-regulated in IR group ( P<0.05). Compared with IR group, the percentage of cerebral infarction volume was significantly decreased, the count of viable neurons was increased, the expression of p16, p21 and TNF-α mRNA in ischemic brain tissues was down-regulated, SOD and GSH contents were increased, the MDA content was decreased, the expression of GRSF1 and GPX4 was up-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and ferritin was down-regulated in IR+ LV-GRSF1 group ( P<0.05). Compared with IR+ LV-GRSF1 group, the percentage of cerebral infarction volume was significantly increased, the count of viable neurons was decreased, the expression of p16, p21 and TNF-α mRNA in ischemic brain tissues was up-regulated, SOD and GSH contents were decreased, the MDA content was increased, the expression of GRSF1 and GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and ferritin was up-regulated in IR+ LV-GRSF1+ RSL3 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:GRSF1 is involved in the endogenous protective mechanism against cerebral I/R injury by up-regulating GPX4 expression, attenuating oxidative stress, and thus inhibiting ferroptosis in mice.