Microarray Expression Analysis for the Paradoxical Roles of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms in Treating α‐Synucleinopathies

α‐Synuclein is a key player in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders with Lewy bodies. Our previous studies have also showed that Acanthopanax senticosus harms (AS) could significantly suppress α‐synuclein overexpression and toxicity. Identifying the RNAs related to α‐synucleinopathies may facilitate understanding the pathogenesis of the diseases and the safe application of AS in the clinic. Microarray expression profiling of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs was undertaken in control non‐transgenic and human α‐synuclein transgenic mice. The effects of AS on central nervous system (CNS) in pathology and physiology were investigated based on the lncRNA/mRNA targets analysis. In total, 341 lncRNAs and 279 mRNAs were differentially expressed by α‐synuclein stimulus, among which 29 lncRNAs and 25 mRNAs were involved in the anti‐α‐synucleinopathies mechanism of AS. However, the levels of 19/29 lncRNAs and 12/25 mRNAs in AS group were similar to those in α‐synuclein group, which may cause potential neurotoxicity analogous to α‐synuclein. This study demonstrated that some of lncRNAs/mRNAs were involved in α‐synuclein related pathophysiology, and AS produced the bidirectional effects on CNS under pathological and physiological conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.