Identification of the Potential Key Long Non-coding RNAs in Aged Mice With Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication, especially in elderly patients after surgery.
• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, including POCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key lncRNAs and their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) implicated in the development of POCD.
• To explore the functional roles of these dysregulated genes in the context of surgery-induced brain changes.

Main Methods:

• Microarray analysis of lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in hippocampal tissues from POCD and control mice.
• Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses to understand gene functions.
• Construction of coding-non-coding co-expression (CNC) networks to identify lncRNA-mRNA interactions.

Main Results:

• Identified 868 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 690 differentially expressed mRNAs.
• Dysregulated genes were primarily associated with inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways.
• Specific lncRNAs (uc009qbj.1, ENSMUST00000174338, NONMMUT00000123687) were correlated with genes involved in inflammation and apoptosis, such as Vrk2, Smad7, and Meis2.

Conclusions:

• Several lncRNAs play a significant role in POCD pathogenesis by regulating neuronal inflammation and apoptosis.
• These identified lncRNAs and their target mRNAs represent potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for POCD.