LncRNA MIAT enhances cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rat model via interacting with EGLN2 and reduces its ubiquitin‐mediated degradation

Long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) MIAT (myocardial infarction associated transcript) has been characterized as a functional lncRNA modulating cerebral ischaemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study explored the functional partners of MIAT in primary rat neurons and their regulation on I/R injury. Sprague‐Dawley rats were used to construct middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models. Their cerebral cortical neurons were used for in vitro oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) models. Results showed that MIAT interacted with EGLN2 in rat cortical neurons. MIAT overexpression or knockdown did not alter EGLN2 transcription. In contrast, MIAT overexpression increased EGLN2 stability after I/R injury via reducing its ubiquitin‐mediated degradation. EGLN2 was a substrate of MDM2, a ubiquitin E3 ligase. MDM2 interacted with the N‐terminal of EGLN2 and mediated its K48‐linked poly‐ubiquitination, thereby facilitating its proteasomal degradation. MIAT knockdown enhanced the interaction and reduced EGLN2 stability. MIAT overexpression enhanced infarct volume and induced a higher ratio of neuronal apoptosis. EGLN2 knockdown significantly reversed the injury. MIAT overexpression reduced oxidative pentose phosphate pathway flux and increased oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, the effects of which were abrogated by EGLN2 knockdown. In conclusion, MIAT might act as a stabilizer of EGLN2 via reducing MDM2 mediated K48 poly‐ubiquitination. MIAT‐EGLN2 axis exacerbates I/R injury via altering redox homeostasis in neurons.