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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation as an In Vitro Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Model for Studying Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction
Published on: May 7, 2015
Suppression of miR-195 attenuates oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced BBB destruction, possibly via
Mingyan Dong1, Lihui Huang1, Qiaohong Zhang1
1National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China.
Background:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly expressed in the brain and represent promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-195 (miR-195) is associated with apoptosis and is significantly upregulated in the serum of patients with ischemic stroke. We aimed to confirm the role of miR-195 in brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) apoptosis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity.
Materials And Methods:
bEnd.3 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). RT-qPCR was used to determine the relative expression of miRNA-195. Bioinformatics analysis using the TargetScan database predicted BCL2L2 as a potential target of miR-195. A BBB model was constructed by culturing bEnd.3 cells in the upper Transwell chambers. Transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran assay were used to assess BBB permeability. Immunofluorescence staining for caspase-3, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and flow cytometric analysis were used to measure bEnd.3 cell apoptosis. Tight junction proteins (TJPs) expression was determined using western blot analysis.
Results:
miR-195 expression was upregulated in the in vitro OGD/R model. miR-195 mimics exacerbated cellular apoptosis and BBB disruption following OGD/R, whereas the miR-195 inhibitor alleviated OGD/R-induced apoptosis and BBB impairment. Overexpression of miR-195 significantly reduced BCL2L2 expression, and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-195 directly binds to BCL2L2. Co-transfection of miR-195 mimics and BCL2L2 partially reversed the effects of miR-195 mimics on cell survival and barrier function.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that the miR-195/BCL2L2 axis plays a critical role in the regulation of bEnd.3 cell apoptosis. Modulation of miR-195 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for targeting BMEC apoptosis in ischemic stroke.
Insights
MicroRNA-195 (miR-195) exacerbates brain endothelial cell apoptosis and blood-brain barrier damage in ischemic stroke models. Inhibiting miR-195 shows therapeutic potential by reducing cell death and improving barrier function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial in brain function and are implicated as therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.
- MicroRNA-195 (miR-195) is upregulated in ischemic stroke and linked to apoptosis, suggesting a role in the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific role of miR-195 in brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) apoptosis.
- To determine the impact of miR-195 on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of modulating miR-195 in ischemic stroke.
Main Methods:
- An in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model using bEnd.3 cells was established.
- miR-195 expression was quantified using RT-qPCR.
- BBB integrity was assessed via transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran assays.
- Apoptosis was measured using caspase-3, TUNEL staining, and flow cytometry.
- BCL2L2 expression and miR-195 binding were analyzed using bioinformatics, western blot, and luciferase reporter assays.
Main Results:
- miR-195 expression was significantly upregulated in the OGD/R model.
- miR-195 mimics increased apoptosis and BBB disruption, while miR-195 inhibitors reduced these effects.
- miR-195 directly targets and downregulates BCL2L2 expression, impacting cell survival and barrier function.
Conclusions:
- The miR-195/BCL2L2 axis is a key regulator of brain microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis.
- Targeting miR-195 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating BMEC apoptosis in ischemic stroke.
