Long non-coding RNA LOC366613 alleviates the cerebral ischemic injury via regulating the miR-532-5p/phosphatase and tensin homolog axis

Cerebral infarction (CI) has become a leading cause of death in China. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are intensively involved in the progression of CI. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of lncRNA LOC366613 (LOC366613) on cerebral I/R injury, as well as its possible mechanism. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used to establish a mouse model of cerebral I/R, and the PC12 cell line was used to establish an in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury model. The MTT assay was used to determine cell viability, and qRT-PCR was used to determine RNA levels. Western blotting was conducted to detect protein expression levels. The TUNEL assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell apoptosis, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) was used to determine cerebral infarct volume. Finally, RNA pull-down and luciferase activity assays were used to examine interactions between miR-532-5p and LOC366613, as well as between miR-532-5p and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). LOC366613 was overexpressed in patients with cerebral I/R injury. In PC12 cells, knockdown of LOC366613 reduced the apoptosis rate and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) expression, while increasing cell viability. Moreover, miR-532-5p was shown to be a target of LOC366613, as predicted. Downregulation of miR-532-5p reversed the effects of LOC366613 knockdown on PC12 cell apoptosis, LDH release, and cell viability. Finally, PTEN was verified as a target of miR-532-5p. LOC366613 participates in cerebral I/R injury by regulating the miR-532-5p/PTEN axis, potentially providing a new CI treatment target.