Long non-coding RNA-AK138945 regulates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via the miR-1-GRP94 signaling pathway

Objective:Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)is one of the leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease in humans,especially in individuals exposed to cold environments.Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)regulate MIRI through multiple mechanisms.This study explored the regulatory effect of lncRNA-AK138945 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and its mechanism.Methods:In vivo,8-to 12-weeks-old C57BL/6 male mice underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 50 minutes followed by reperfusion for 48 hours.In vitro,the primary cultured neonatal mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes(NMVCs)were treated with 100μmol/L hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)).The knockdown of lncRNA-AK138945 was evaluated to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis,and a glucose-regulated,endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein 94(GRP94)inhibitor was used to detect myocardial injury.Results:We found that the expression level of lncRNA-AK138945 was reduced in MIRI mouse heart tissue and H2O2-treated cardiomyocytes.Moreover,the proportion of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes increased after lncRNA-AK138945 was silenced.The expression level of Bcl2 protein was decreased,and the expression level of Bad,Caspase 9 and Caspase 3 protein was increased.Our further study found that miR-1a-3p is a direct target of lncRNA-AK138945,after lncRNA-AK138945 was silenced in cardiomyocytes,the expression level of miR-1a-3p was increased while the expression level of its downstream protein GRP94 was decreased.Interestingly,treatment with a GRP94 inhibitor(PU-WS13)intensified H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.After overexpression of FOXO3,the expression levels of lncRNA-AK138945 and GRP94 were increased,while the expression levels of miR-1a-3p were decreased.Conclusion:LncRNA-AK138945 inhibits GRP94 expression by regulating miR-1a-3p,leading to cardiomyocyte apoptosis.The transcription factor Forkhead Box Protein O3(FOXO3)participates in cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress through up-regulation of lncRNA-AK138945.