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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
An In Vivo Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke
Published on: March 11, 2018
MicroRNA-199a-5p attenuates blood-brain barrier disruption following ischemic stroke by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling
Guangxiao Ni1, Lulu Kou1, Chunqiao Duan1
1Department of Rehabilitation of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Objective:
To explore whether miR-199a-5p regulated BBB integrity through PI3K/Akt pathway after ischemia stroke.
Methods:
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) were used in experiment. The Ludmila Belayev 12-point scoring was used to measure the neurological function of MCAO rats. The Evans Blue Stain, immunofluorescence staining, western-blotting and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate the effects of miR-199a-5p mimic on BBB integrity in rats following MCAO.
Results:
The result suggested that miR-199a-5p mimic treatment possessed the potential to boost proprioception and motor activity of MCAO rats. MiR-199a-5p decreased the expression of PIK3R2 after MCAO, activated Akt signaling pathway, and increased the expression of Claudin-5 and VEGF in the ischemic penumbra. Furthermore, miR-199a-5p alleviated inflammation after cerebral ischemia. BBB leakage and neurocyte apoptosis were cut down in MCAO rats treated with miR-199a-5p mimic.
Conclusions:
MiR-199a-5p mimic decreased the expression of PIK3R2 and activated Akt signaling pathway after ischemia stroke, reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and attenuated BBB disruption after ischemic stroke.
Insights
MicroRNA-199a-5p (miR-199a-5p) mimic improved neurological function and reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after ischemic stroke in rats by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Ischemic stroke poses a significant threat to brain health, often leading to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in post-stroke recovery and BBB integrity.
- Understanding the role of specific miRNAs like miR-199a-5p in stroke pathophysiology is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory role of miR-199a-5p in maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity following ischemic stroke.
- To elucidate the involvement of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in miR-199a-5p-mediated effects on BBB integrity.
Main Methods:
- Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to induce ischemic stroke.
- Neurological function was assessed using the Ludmila Belayev 12-point scoring system.
- Blood-brain barrier integrity was evaluated using Evans Blue staining, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- miR-199a-5p mimic treatment enhanced motor activity and proprioception in MCAO rats.
- miR-199a-5p mimic reduced PIK3R2 expression, activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, and increased Claudin-5 and VEGF expression in the ischemic penumbra.
- Treatment with miR-199a-5p mimic alleviated inflammation, decreased BBB leakage, and reduced neurocyte apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- MiR-199a-5p mimic plays a protective role in ischemic stroke by modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
- This miRNA intervention attenuated BBB disruption and reduced inflammatory responses post-stroke.
- miR-199a-5p represents a potential therapeutic target for mitigating stroke-induced brain damage.
