Dexmedetomidine protects PC12 cells from oxidative damage through regulation of miR-199a/HIF-1α

Background: Although dexmedetomidine (Dex) has a significant neuroprotective effect in various nerve-damage models, the exact mechanism of which Dex protects cells from oxidative damage is not fully clear. This article recommended the protective effect of Dex on oxidative damage in PC12 cells.Methods: The PC12 cells were incubated by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 h and pre-treated by Dex for 30 min. Cell viability, apoptosis, HIF-1α expression and ROS level were detected by CCK-8, apoptosis assay, Western blot and ROS assay, respectively. The miR-199a expression was tested by qRT-PCR. Targeting relationship between miR-199a and HIF-1α was performed by dual luciferase activity assay. The activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways was tested by western blot.Results: Dex attenuated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage, including the decline of cell viability, the raise of apoptosis and the generation of ROS in PC12 cells by down-regulating miR-199a expression. Moreover, Dex up-regulated HIF-1α expression via decreasing miR-199a level in PC12 cells and miR-199a targeted the 3'-UTR of HIF-1α. In addition, Dex activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways by declining miR-199a level.Conclusions: This article illustrated the protective effect of Dex on oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Furthermore, Dex prevented PC12 cells from oxidative injury through the regulation of miR-199a/HIF-1α.