miR-137, a new target for post-stroke depression？
摘要
Expression of miR-137 is downregulated in brain tissue from patients with depression and suicidal behavior,and is also downregulated in peripheral blood from stroke patients.However,it is not yet known if miR-137 acts as a bridge between stroke and depression.To test this,we used middle cerebral artery occlusion and chronic mild stress to establish a post-stroke depression model in rats.Compared with controls,we found significantly lower miR-137 levels in the brain and peripheral blood from post-stroke depression rats.Injection of a miR-137 antagonist into the brain ventricles upregulated miR-137 levels,and improved behavioral changes in post-stroke depression rats.Luciferase assays showed miR-137 bound to the 3′UTR of Grin2A,regulating Grin2A expression in a neuronal cell line.Grin2A gene overexpression in the brain of post-stroke depression rats,noticeably suppressed the inhibitory effect of miR-137 on post-stroke depression.Overall,our results show that miR-137 suppresses Grin2A protein expression through binding to Grin2A mRNA,thereby exerting an inhibitory effect on post-stroke depression.Our results offer a new therapeutic direction for post-stroke depression.