Regulatory coupling between long noncoding RNAs and senescence in irradiated microglia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Microglia play a role in radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI).
• Irradiated microglia may exhibit an aging-like (senescence) phenotype.
• The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in irradiated microglia senescence is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the senescence phenotype of microglia following ionizing radiation (IR).
• To identify and analyze radiation-induced differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (RILs) in microglia.
• To elucidate the relationship between RILs and key senescence features in irradiated microglia.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics and experimental approaches were used to identify and analyze microglia senescence.
• Techniques included Western blotting, ELISAs, immunofluorescence, and qRT-PCR.
• The study examined the interplay between RILs and inflammation, DNA damage response (DDR), and metabolism.

Main Results:

• Ionizing radiation (IR) can induce microglia senescence.
• RILs mutually regulate inflammation, DDR, and metabolism in senescent microglia.
• Specific RILs (ENSMUST00000190863, ENSMUST00000130679) modulate NF-κB/MAPK signaling and inflammatory cytokine secretion.
• RILs are influenced by DNA damage severity and lipogenesis, with one RIL promoting DDR.

Conclusions:

• Specific RILs are involved in the senescence of irradiated microglia.
• RILs actively regulate key features of microglia senescence.
• RILs represent potential therapeutic targets for treating radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI).