LncRNA NEAT1 Facilitates Survival and Angiogenesis in Oxygen-glucose Deprivation (OGD)-induced Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (BMECs) Via Targeting MiR-377 and Upregulating SIRT1, VEGFA, and BCL-XL

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which lncRNA NEAT1 regulates survival and angiogenesis in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs).

Methods: OGD-treated BMECs were used to mimic cerebral ischaemia in vitro. The expression of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-377 and proteins including VEGFA, SIRT1, and BCL-XL were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. Cell viability and caspase 3 activity of BMECs under different conditions were determined using MTT and caspase activity assays, respectively. Matrigel-based angiogenesis assays were employed to evaluate the effect of lncRNA NEAT1 on angiogenesis. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate direct binding of miR-377 to putative targets.

Results: OGD exposure reduced the cell viability of BMECs. Upregulation of lncRNA NEAT1 and downregulation of miR-377 were also observed under OGD conditions. Knockdown of lncRNA NEAT1 inhibited angiogenesis and aggravated apoptosis in OGD-induced BMECs. Meanwhile, the expression level of miR-377 was upregulated while its downstream targets (VEGFA, SIRT1, and BCL-XL) were downregulated after lncRNA NEAT1 knockdown. Furthermore, miR-377 inhibited the angiogenesis and survival of OGD-induced BMECs. The expression of VEGFA, SIRT1, and BCL-XL were all attenuated by miR-377 overexpression. The dual-luciferase reporter assay proved miR-377 targeted the 3' UTR sequences of lncRNA NEAT1, VEGFA, SIRT1, and BCL-XL.

Conclusion: lncRNA NEAT1 facilitated the survival and angiogenesis of OGD-induced BMECs via targeting miR-377 and promoting the expression of VEGFA, SIRT1, and BCL-XL, suggesting that lncRNA NEAT1 could be a promising target for cerebral ischaemia treatment.