miR-21在周围神经损伤时调控雪旺细胞凋亡

目的:探讨周围神经损伤时,微小RNA-21(microRNA-21,miR-21)与雪旺细胞(SC)凋亡的关系及相关分子机制。方法:采用实时荧光定量PCR(real-time PCR)检测动物模型中miR-21以及人第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶及张力蛋白同源基因(phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10,PTEN)的表达情况;通过将miR-21类似物(miR-21-mimic)、miR-21抑制物(miR-21-inhibitor)和阴性对照miRNA(negative control miRNA,NC-miRNA)转染入RSC96细胞中,构建出过表达miR-21的雪旺细胞株(MI-SC)、抑制miR-21表达的雪旺细胞株(IN-SC)及表达对照miRNA的雪旺细胞株(NC-SC);采用流式细胞仪检测3组细胞的凋亡情况;real-time PCR检测3组细胞中miR-21以及PTEN的表达情况;Western blot检测3组细胞中PTEN及凋亡相关蛋白激活型caspase-3(cleaved caspase-3)的表达情况。结果:神经损伤组miR-21的表达量与对照组相比明显升高,神经损伤组PTEN mRNA的表达水平与对照组相比明显降低;与NC-SC相比,上调miR-21组细胞的凋亡比例减少,PTEN mRNA及蛋白的表达水平降低,cleaved caspase-3的表达水平降低,下调miR-21组细胞的凋亡比例增加,PTEN mRNA及蛋白的表达水平升高,cleaved caspase-3的表达水平升高(P0.05)。结论:miR-21可能通过下调PTEN的表达抑制雪旺细胞的凋亡,从而可能在周围神经的损伤修复中发挥作用。

miR-21 inhibits apoptosis of Schwann cells following peripheral nerve injury

AIM: To explore the relationship and molecular mechanism between microRNA-21(miR-21) and Schwann cells (SC) following peripheral nerve injury. METHODS: The mRNA expression of miR-21 and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in animal model were detected by real-time PCR. The over-expression of miR-21 and inhibition of miR-21 expression in the Schwann cells according to transfection of lentiviral vectors were performed, the nonspecific miRNA was used as a negative control (NC). The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of miR-21 and PTEN in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The level of miR-21 was significantly higher and the mRNA level of PTEN was significantly lower in the model of nerve injury than those in control group. miR-21 over-expression decreased the number of apoptotic Schwann cells compared with NC-SC. The mRNA expression of PTEN was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21. The protein expression of PTEN and cleaved caspase-3 was down-regulated by over-expression of miR-21(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-21 may play an important role in the peripheral nerve injury through inhibiting apoptosis of Schwann cells by down-regulating the expression of PTEN.