Impact of microRNA-134 on neural cell survival against ischemic injury in primary cultured neuronal cells and mouse brain with ischemic stroke by targeting HSPA12B

• Downregulation of miR-134 reduces neuronal cell death in OGD-treated primary neuron.
• Downregulation of miR-134 increases HSPA12B protein in OGD-treated primary neuron.
• HSPA12B siRNAs block the neuroprotective events of miR-134 downregulation.
• MiR-134 plays an important role in brain ischemic injuries.

As a newly discovered member of the HSP70 family, heat shock protein A12B (HSPA12B) is involved in brain ischemic injury. According to our previous study, microRNA-134 (miR-134) could target HSPA12B by binding to its 3′-untranslated region (UTR). However, the regulation of miR-134 on HSPA12B and their role in protecting neuronal cells from ischemic injury are unclear. In this study, the miR-134 expression level was manipulated, and the HSPA12B protein levels were also determined in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated primary cultured neuronal cells in vitro and mouse brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced ischemic stroke in vivo. The results showed that miR-134 expression levels increased in primary cultured neuronal cells and mouse brain from 12 h to 7 day reoxygenation/reperfusion after 1 h OGD or 1 h MCAO treatment. miR-134 overexpression promoted neuronal cell death and apoptosis by decreasing HSPA12B protein levels. Conversely, downregulating miR-134 reduced neuronal cell death and apoptosis by enhancing HSPA12B protein levels. Also, HSPA12B siRNA could block miR-134 inhibitor-mediated neuroprotection against OGD-induced neuronal cell injury in vitro. Taken together, miR-134 might influence neuronal cell survival against ischemic injury in primary cultured neuronal cells and mouse brain with ischemic stroke by negatively modulating HSPA12B protein expression in a posttranscriptional manner.