1. Neuroprotective effects of lentivirus‐mediated aquaporin‐4 gene silencing in rat model of traumatic brain injury.
- Author
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Li, Bo, Wei, Meiping, Wan, Xiangdong, Chen, Zeshang, Liu, Minghao, Fan, Zhenzeng, and Yang, Lijun
- Subjects
BRAIN injuries ,GENE silencing ,AQUAPORINS ,ANIMAL disease models ,CRANIOCEREBRAL injuries ,BLOOD-brain barrier - Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common clinical condition caused by external force. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in astrocytes participates in the generation of cell swelling in TBI. This research explored the effect of AQP4 gene silencing in a TBI rat model. A hydraulic craniocerebral trauma instrument was employed for establishing the TBI rat model. AQP4 expression in the brain was inhibited by the injection of AQP4 shRNA-lentiviral vector. The expression of relative genes was evaluated by Western blot and qRT-PCR. Neuronal apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. AQP4 shRNA treatment inhibited AQP4 expression in the brain of rats with TBI. AQP4 shRNA alleviated TBI-induced brain edema and neurological deficit in rats. Neuronal apoptosis and astrocyte activation in TBI rats were reduced by AQP4 silencing. This research demonstrated that AQP4 shRNA-induced silencing of AQP4 in the TBI rat model reduced the expression of AQP4 and GFAP, alleviated brain edema, neurological deficit, neuronal apoptosis and inhibited astrocyte activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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