CEBPA-AS1 Knockdown Alleviates Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reperfusion-Induced Neuron Cell Damage by the MicroRNA 24-3p/BOK Axis

Abstract

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) can lead to serious brain function impairments. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CCAAT enhancer binding protein α antisense RNA 1 (<i>CEBPA-AS1</i>) was shown to be upregulated in human ischemic stroke. This study investigated the function and mechanism of <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> in I/R. An oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model was used to induce I/R injury in SH-SY5Y cells <i>in vitro</i>. RT-qPCR examined the expression of <i>CEBPA-AS1</i>, microRNA 24-3p (miR-24-3p), and Bcl-2-related ovarian killer (Bok). The cell viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress in OGD/R-treated cells were detected using CCK-8, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The relationship among genes was tested by RNA pulldown and luciferase reporter assays. We found that OGD/R upregulated <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> expression in SH-SY5Y cells. Functionally, <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> depletion ameliorated OGD/R-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells by reducing reactive oxygen species production and superoxide dismutase and glutathione. Mechanistic investigations indicated that <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> acts as a sponge for miR-24-3p, and miR-24-3p binds to BOK. Moreover, miR-24-3p upregulation or BOK downregulation antagonized the protective role of <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> depletion in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to OGD/R. Overall, downregulation of <i>CEBPA-AS1</i> exerts protective functions against OGD/R-induced injury by targeting the miR-24-3p/BOK axis.