Background: The interleukin 28 receptor alpha (IL28RA) gene was indicated to be associated with apoptosis. However, it was not clear whether long non-coding RNA 260 (lncRNA 260)-specific siRNA targeting IL28RA gene could inhibit hypoxic reoxygenation (H/R) cardiomyocytes injury or not. To explore the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of lncRNA260-specific siRNA-mediated inhibition of IL28RA from H/R injury in cardiomyocytes, the current research was performed.
Methods: The primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were transfected with three different pairs of siRNA specific to lncRNA260 targeting IL28RA gene and then were undergone with the conditions simulating H/R injury.
Results: All three groups of cardiomyocytes treated with lncRNA260-specific siRNA experienced significantly decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase activity and apoptosis rate relative to the non-treatment and negative control groups (P<0.05), also expressed reduced levels of IL28RA, and increased levels of PI3KCG and Bcl-2/Bax (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The lncRNA260-specific siRNA may reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis associated with H/R injury by decreasing levels of the IL28RA gene product and thus activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Keywords: Interleukin 28 receptor alpha (IL28RA); apoptosis; hypoxia and reoxygenation; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p110 gamma (PI3KCG); siRNA.