Detection and characterization of some new basic proteins in chicken postsynaptic densities

LncRNA SOX21-AS1 Promotes Activation of BV2 Cells via Epigenetical Silencing of SOCS3 and Aggravates Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND

LncRNAs perform a crucial impact on microglia's activation in Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, our purpose was to probe the function and involved mechanism of lncRNA SOX21-AS1 on microglial activation in PD.

METHODS

Mice were treated with MPTP, and BV2 cells were treated with LPS/ATP to build PD animal and cell models. Genes' expression was measured using RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, and IHC stain. ELISA was applied for testing inflammatory factors' levels. Cell viability and apoptosis were tested using kits. RIP and RNA pull-down assay were utilized for monitoring the bond of SOX21-AS1 to EZH2, and ChIP was applied for affirming the bond between EZH2 and SOCS3's promoter.

RESULTS

The expression of SOX21-AS1 and SOCS3 was abnormal in PD cell and animal models. Inhibition of SOX21-AS1 repressed LPS/ATP-induced activation in BV2 cells and nerve damage caused by activated BV2 cells, alleviating the pathological features of PD mice. Further studies found that SOX21-AS1 epigenetically inhibited SOCS3 by recruiting EZH2 to SOCS3 promoter. SOX21-AS1 overexpression partially offset the repressive impact of SOCS3 enhancement on BV2 cell activation and the protective effect on nerve cells.

CONCLUSION

SOX21-AS1 enhances LPS/ATP-induced activation of BV2 cells and nerve damage caused by activated BV2 cells though recruiting EZH2 to SOCS3's promoter, thereby alleviating PD progression. Our research supplies new potential target for curing PD.

Enrichment of neuronal and glial connexins in the postsynaptic density subcellular fraction of rat brain

The similar dense, protein-rich and detergent-resistant characteristics of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) and gap junctions led us to investigate the distribution of gap junctions and their constituent connexins in CNS subcellular fractions containing PSDs. Western blot analysis showed these fractions to be enriched in both neuronal and glial connexins, namely, connexin26, connexin30, connexin36 and connexin43. Connexins were retained in these fractions after treatment with n-lauroyl sarcosine to remove loosely associated proteins. Confocal double immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of connexins in PSD fractions and showed a near total co-localization of glial connexin30 and connexin43, demonstrating preservation of inter-connexin relationships that have been observed in vivo. In contrast, none of the connexins were co-localized with the PSD structural protein PSD-95, indicating their lack of direct association with PSDs. These results show that PSD preparations contain significant levels of connexin proteins, which appear to remain assembled as gap junctions. Thus, protocols used to isolate PSDs may serve as a basis for development of methods to isolate CNS gap junctions, which would aid biochemical identification of regulatory and structural proteins associated with these structures.