Adenovirus-mediated short hairpin RNA interference against p75 neurotrophin receptor in pheochromocytoma cells

Previous studies have confirmed that motor neuron apoptosis in the anterior horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord is positively correlated with p75 neurotrophin receptor （p75NTR） expression in rat models of cauda equina syndrome. This study used adenovirus to carry a short hairpin RNA （shRNA） for p75NTR gene silencing, to reduce p75NTR expression in the damaged phase and to decrease motor neuron apoptosis. Three p75 siRNA template oligonucleotide segments （shRNA） were designed, and cloned into the 1.0 CMV shuttle vector. HEK293 cells were cotransfected with shuttle vector （carrying shRNA） and an adenovirus vector framework expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. Thus, this study successfully obtained adenovirus carrying p75shRNA. The obtained viruses were named Ad.shRNA1, Ad.shRNA2, and Ad.shRNA3. The recombinant adenoviruses were separately used to infect cultured pheochromocytoma cells （PC12）. Forty-eight hours later, p75NTR mRNA and total protein were analyzed from the PC12 cells. Compared with the negative controls, RNA interference rates were separately 98.49 ± 0.68%, 95.08 ± 1.79% and 96.60 ± 1.14% at the mRNA level, and 72.89 ± 2.17%, 58.83 ± 1.15% and 59.88 ± 0.44% at the protein level in the Ad.shRNA1, Ad.shRNA2, and Ad.shRNA3 groups, respectively. Thus, recombinant adenovirus shRNA-mediated gene silencing successfully suppressed p75NTR expression.

Edaravone protects PC12 cells from ischemic-like injury via attenuating the damage to mitochondria

Background： Edaravone had been validated to effectively protect against ischemic injuries. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of edaravone by observing the effects on anti-apoptosis, regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression and recovering from damage to mitochondria after OGD （oxygen-glucose deprivation）-reperfusion. Methods： Viability of PC 12 cells which were injured at different time of OGD injury, was quantified by measuring MTT （2-（4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide） staining. In addition, PC 12 cells＇ viability was also quantified after their preincubation in different concentration of edaravone for 30 min followed by （OGD）. Furthermore, apoptotic population of PC 12 cells that reinsulted from OGD-reperfusion with or without preincubation with edaravone was determined by flow cytometer analysis, electron microscope and Hoechst/Pl staining. Finally, change of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression was detected by Western blot. Results： （1） The viability of PC12 cells decreased with time （1-12 h） after OGD. We regarded the model of OGD 2 h, then replacing DMEM （Dulbecco＇s Modified Eagle＇s Medium） for another 24 h as an OGD-reperfusion in this research. Furthermore, most PC 12 cells were in the state of apoptosis after OGD-reperfusion. （2） The viability of PC 12 cells preincubated with edaravone at high concentrations （1, 0.1, 0.01 μmol/L） increased significantly with edaravone protecting PC 12 cells from apoptosis after OGD-reperfusion injury. （3） Furthermore, edaravone attenuates the damage of OGD-reperfusion on mitochondria and regulated Bcl-2/Bax protein imbalance expression after OGD-reperfusion. Conclusion： Neuroprotective effects of edaravone on ischemic or other brain injuries may be partly mediated through inhibition of Bcl-2/Bax apoptotic pathways by recovering from the damage of mitochondria.