Silencing of SIAH1 in SH-SY5Y affects α-synuclein degradation pathway

Seven in absentia homolog (SIAH) is a ubiquitin ligase that monoubiquitinates α-synuclein. Lewy bodies are characteristically rich in monoubiquitinated α-synuclein. We aimed to determine the effect of siRNA-SIAH1 on α-synuclein autophagy and UPS degradation in SH-SY5Y. SIAH1 expression was measured with real-time quantitative PCR and Western Blot. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay; cell apoptosis assayed by flow cytometry. Relative protein expressions were measured by Western Blot. mRNA levels of relative protein were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The expression of α-synuclein, LC3-II and SIAH1 were observed by confocal microscopy. We found: (1) Transfection efficiency of SIAH1-siRNA into SH-SY5 measured approximately 89% by flow cytometry. (2) siRNA silencing of SIAH1 promoted cellular proliferation and suppressed apoptosis. (3) Protein and mRNA expression of α-synuclein, LC3-II and p53 decreased after SIAH1 knockdown. E1 protein and mRNA levels increased after SIAH1 siRNA. These data show silencing SIAH1 increased cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. SIAH1 knockdown enhanced the clearance of non-aggregated α-synuclein by UPS. SIAH1 is a potential target for treatment of Parkinson's disease.