Insulin Increases Viability of Neurons in Rat Cerebral Cortex and Normalizes Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio under Conditions of Oxidative Stress

The lncRNA-AK046375 Upregulates Metallothionein-2 by Sequestering miR-491-5p to Relieve the Brain Oxidative Stress Burden after Traumatic Brain Injury

We previously discovered that traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces significant perturbations in long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) levels in the mouse cerebral cortex, and lncRNA-AK046375 is one of the most significantly changed lncRNAs after TBI. lncRNA-AK046375 overexpression and knockdown models were successfully constructed both in vitro and in vivo. In cultured primary cortical neurons and astrocytes, lncRNA-AK046375 sequestered miR-491-5p, thereby enhancing the expression of metallothionein-2 (MT2), which ameliorated oxidative-induced cell injury. In addition, upregulated lncRNA-AK046375 promoted the recovery of motor, learning, and memory functions after TBI in C57BL/6 mice, and the underlying mechanism may be related to ameliorated apoptosis, inhibited oxidative stress, reduced brain edema, and relieved loss of tight junction proteins at the blood-brain barrier in the mouse brain. Therefore, we conclude that lncRNA-AK046375 enhances MT2 expression by sequestering miR-491-5p, ultimately strengthening antioxidant activity, which ameliorates neurological deficits post-TBI.

Copy number variation characterization and possible candidate genes in miscarriage and stillbirth by next-generation sequencing analysis

Background

The present study aimed to explore the etiological relationship between miscarriage and stillbirth and copy number variations (CNVs), as well as provide useful genetic guidance for high‐risk pregnancy.

Methods

In total, 659 fetal samples were recruited and subjected to DNA extraction and CNV sequencing (CNV‐seq), relevant medical records were collected.

Results

There were 322 cases (48.86%) with chromosomal abnormalities, including 230 with numerical abnormalities and 92 with structural abnormalities. Chromosomal monosomy variations mainly occurred on sex chromosomes and trisomy variations mainly occurred on chromosomes 16, 22, 21, 18, 13 and 15. In total, 41 pathogenic CNVs (23 microdeletions and 18 microduplications) were detected in 27 fetal tissues. The rates of numerical chromosomal abnormalities were 29.30% (109/372), 32.39% (57/176) and 57.66% (64/111) in < 30‐year‐old, 30–34‐year‐old and ≥ 35‐year‐old age pregnant women, respectively, and increased with an increasing age (p < 0.001). There was statistically significant difference (χ² = 7.595, p = 0.022) in the rates of structural chromosomal abnormalities in these groups (13.71%, 18.75% and 7.21%, respectively). The rates of numerical chromosomal abnormalities were 45.44% (219/482), 7.80% (11/141) and 0% (0/36) in the ≤ 13 gestational weeks, 14–27 weeks and ≥ 28 weeks groups, respectively, and decreased with respect to the increasing gestational age of the fetuses (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The present study has obtained useful and accurate genetic etiology information that will provide useful genetic guidance for high‐risk pregnancies.