Background: The role of ATPIF1 in ischemic brain injury is rarely reported.
Objectives: This study explored the effect of ATPIF1 on astrocyte activity under oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R).
Material and methods: The study sample was randomly allocated into: 1) control group (blank control); 2) OGD/R group (hypoxia for 6 h/reoxygenation for 1 h); 3) siRNA negative control (NC) group (OGD/R model+siRNA NC); and 4) siRNA-ATPIF1 group (OGD/R model+siRNA-ATPIF1). The OGD/R cell model was established from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to simulate ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cells in the siRNA-ATPIF1 group were treated with siATPIF1. Ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Apoptosis, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected with flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and caspase-3 were detected with western blot.
Results: In the model group, the cell structure and the ridge structure were destroyed, and mitochondria edema, outer membrane damage and vacuole-like lesions were observed. Compared with the control group, the OGD/R group had considerably increased apoptosis, G0/G1 phase, ROS content, MMP, and Bax, caspase-3 and NF-κB protein expression, as well as markedly decreased S phase and Bcl-2 protein expression. Compared with the OGD/R group, the siRNA-ATPIF1 group had considerably decreased apoptosis, G0/G1 phase, ROS content, MMP, and Bax, caspase-3 and NF-κB protein expression, as well as remarkably increased S phase and Bcl-2 protein expression.
Conclusions: The inhibition of ATPIF1 may alleviate OGD/R-induced astrocyte injury by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing the ROS content and MMP in the rat brain ischemic model.
Keywords: ATPIF1; NF-κB signaling pathway; OGD/R; apoptosis; astrocytes.