The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 453-459.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2024.04.003

• Feature Reports:Depression • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The mechanism of target regulating of miR⁃421 to Menin/Caspase⁃3 pathway for depression

Yonghui LIU1,Qingjing TAN1,Qing CHEN1,Liping WEI2,Junwei YANG1,Kan YANG3,Yuguang. GAO4()   

  1. *.Department of Neurology,First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine,Nanning 530023,China
  • Received:2023-04-09 Online:2024-02-25 Published:2024-03-08
  • Contact: Yuguang. GAO E-mail:stone_304@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To explore the mechanism of miR-421 affecting the occurrence and development of depression. Methods A depressive rat model was established by single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and depressive behavior was detected by glucose preference test and open-field test. miRNA microarray chips and RT-PCR were used to analyze the expression level of miR-421 in hippocampus of the depressed rats. TargetScan database and mi RDB database were used to predict the target genes of miR-421. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to observe the binding of miR-421 to the target genes. The impact of over-expression and inhibition of miR-421 on target genes was observed, then the influence of over-expression and inhibition of target genes on downstream factors was observed, and the related mechanism of miR-421 on depression was explored. Results miRNA microarray chips and RT-PCR assay showed that miR-421 was highly expressed in the hippocampus of the depressed rats (P < 0.001), Inhibition of miR-421 expression could significantly restore the body weight and exercise ability of the depressed rats (P < 0.001). Binding targets of Menin and miR-421 were predicted by TargetScan database, and interaction between Menin and miR-421 was demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Menin expression was down-regulated while miR-421 was overexpressed (P < 0.001), whereas it was up-regulated as miR-421 was inhibited (P < 0.001). qPCR indicated that expressions of Caspase-3 and NF-κB in the hippocampus of the depressed rats was significantly increased (P < 0.001), and IL-1β expression in the hippocampus was significantly increased (P < 0.01). When the expression of Menin was inhibited, the expressions of Caspase-3, NF-κB and IL-1β were increased (P < 0.001), while the expressions of Caspase-3, NF-κB and IL-1β were decreased when Menin was overexpressed (P < 0.001). Conclusions Inhibition of miR-421 expression can increase Menin expression, decrease Caspase-3 content, and reduce neuroinflammatory response, thereby improving depressive symptoms.

Key words: depression, miR-421, menin, caspase 3, animal experiments, mechanism

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