Inhibition of long noncoding RNA growth arrest–specific 5 attenuates cerebral injury induced by deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in rats

Objective We sought to investigate cerebroprotection by targeting long noncoding RNA growth arrest–specific 5 in a rat model of prolonged deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was conducted for 60 minutes when the pericranial temperature was cooled to 18°C in rats. Dual luciferase assay was used to detect the binding relationship between growth arrest–specific 5 and putative target microRNAs. Adeno-associated viral vectors containing growth arrest–specific 5 small interfering RNA or negative control small interfering RNA were administered by intracerebroventricular injection 14 days before deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Expressions of growth arrest–specific 5, microRNA-23a, phosphate and tension homology, Bcl-2–associated X protein, Bcl-2, phospho-protein kinase B, protein kinase B, and cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampus were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Spatial learning and memory functions were evaluated by the Morris water maze test. The hippocampus was harvested for histologic examinations and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling staining. Results Luciferase assay showed that growth arrest–specific 5 targeted and inhibited microRNA-23a expression. After deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, hippocampal growth arrest–specific 5 expression was significantly enhanced with a robust decrease of hippocampal microRNA-23a expression. Small interfering RNA growth arrest–specific 5 significantly inhibited growth arrest–specific 5 expression and enhanced microRNA-23a expression in the hippocampus, accompanied with decreases of phosphate and tension homology and Bcl-2–associated X protein expression, and increases of Bcl-2 expression and phospho-protein kinase B/protein kinase B ratio. Growth arrest–specific 5 knockdown inhibited neuronal apoptosis, attenuated histologic damages, and increased the number of surviving neurons in the hippocampus. Spatial learning and memory functions after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were also markedly improved by growth arrest–specific 5 inhibition. Conclusions Inhibition of large noncoding RNA growth arrest–specific 5 can provide a powerful cerebroprotection against deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, which may be mediated through microRNA-23a/phosphate and tension homology pathway.