SNHG12 inhibits oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal apoptosis via the miR-181a-5p/NEGR1 axis

Abstract

Emerging evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNA s (lncRNA s) are closely associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. It has been reported that small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) serves a critical role in ischemic stroke by acting as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA ). SNHG12 competes with various microRNA s (miRs) to regulate RNA transcription of specific targets. However, the effect of SNHG12 on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neuronal apoptosis has rarely been reported. The present study demonstrated that SNHG12 expression was downregulated in OGD- injured SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, miR- 181a-5p was reported as a target of SNHG12 and was negatively regulated by SNHG12. Moreover, NE GR1 was a target of miR- 181a-5p, which functions as a negative regulator of NE GR1 in OGD- induced neuronal apoptosis. In summary, the results strongly confirmed the hypothesis that SNHG12 functions as a ceRNA for miR- 181a-5p and regulates the expression of NE GR1 thus inhibiting OGD- induced apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. Neuronal apoptosis aggravates brain damage during ischemic stroke, indicating that the activation of SNHG12 and NE GR1 expression and inhibition of miR- 181a-5p may be a novel strategy for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.