Inhibition of JAK1 by microRNA-708 promotes SH-SY5Y neuronal cell survival after oxygen and glucose deprivation and reoxygenation

MicroRNAs mediates gene expression in various diseases. Studies have shown that aberrant expression of miRNAs affected cerebral protection. In this study, we have investigated the effects of microRNA-708 (miR-708) on cell survival of oxygen and glucose-deprived reoxygenation (OGD/R) human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and explored whether miR-708 inhibited neuronal death by targeting JAK1. In vitro model of ischemia was used to investigate the neuroprotective functions of miR-708. MiR-708 mimics/siJAK1 transfected SH-SY5Y cells were treated with OGD. After 48 h of reoxygenation, cell viability and cell survival were determined by EdU and FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry, respectively. Luciferase activity assay was performed to validate the role of JAK1 as a direct target of miR-708. qRT-PCR and Immunofluorescence assays were used to determine the expression of JAK1, MAP2 and NEUN in miR-708 mimics transfected SH-SY5Y cells. To explore the mechanisms involved in cell growth promotion by JAK1, morphological changes in cells were detected upon knockdown of JAK1, and the expression levels of JAK1, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase-3, STAT3 and Mcl-1 were determined by Western blotting. The expression of miR-708 significantly decreased in cells treated with OGD/R. MiR-708 directly targeted JAK1 3′UTR to down-regulate JAK1 mRNA expression, whereas the expression of MAP2 and NEUN was upregulated. Previous studies have demonstrated that the suppression of JAK1 inhibited apoptosis phenocopied function of the miR-708 overexpression in OGD/R SH-SY5Y cells. miR-708 decreased the rate of apoptosis of OGD/R SH-SY5Y cells by suppressing the expression of JAK1.