• Yan Liu, Xiao Ke, Wenyu Guo, Xiaoqing Wang, Changnong Peng, Zhiyong Liao, Qiang Liu, and Yingling Zhou.
• Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
• Arch Med Sci. 2022 Jan 1; 18 (3): 732-745.

IntroductionMyocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a leading cause of cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/R injury. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms are unclear. The present study determined the role of circ-RHOJ.1 in regulating myocardial cell proliferation and apoptosis after I/R injury.Material And MethodsMyocardial cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats were identified with an immunofluorescence assay using cardiac troponin T antibody. Expression of circ-RHOJ.1, miR-124-3p and neuregulin-1 (NRG1) mRNA was assessed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. NRG1 protein expression was evaluated with western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm interaction between miR-124-3p and circ-RHOJ.1, and miR-124-3p and NRG1. Effects of circ-RHOJ.1 overexpression or miR-124-3p inhibition on cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated using cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay and flow cytometry. Cytokines levels were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsMyocardial cells were successfully isolated and had down-regulated expression of circ-RHOJ.1 and NRG1, and up-regulated expression of miR-124-3p after I/R injury. circ-RHOJ.1 acted as a sponge for miR-124-3p, and NRG1 served as a target gene of miR-124-3p. circ-RHOJ.1 overexpression or miR-124-3p inhibition increased interleukin (IL)-10 levels and reduced IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in myocardial cells after I/R injury. Functional assay results illustrated that circ-RHOJ.1 overexpression or miR-124-3p inhibition enhanced proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of myocardial cells after I/R injury.ConclusionsCirc-RHOJ.1 served as a molecular marker of myocardial I/R injury via regulation of miR-124-3p and NRG1 expression.Copyright: © 2019 Termedia & Banach.

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