MiR-361-3p alleviates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by targeting NACC1 through the PINK1/Parkin pathway

Ischemic stroke is a nervous system disease with high rates of disability and mortality. MicroRNAs have been reported to modulate cerebral ischemia. The current study aimed to study the role of miR-361-3p in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Experimental results revealed that miR-361-3p level was downregulated in a middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischemic stroke mouse model and in oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. After overexpressing miR-361-3p, the percentage of brain infarct volume and neurobehavioral scores in mice were significantly reduced, and the neuronal apoptosis was inhibited. Moreover, miR-361-3p overexpression could limit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-361-3p and identified that miR-361-3p combined with NACC1 3ʹUTR to negatively modulate its expression. In addition, NACC1 interacts with the PINK1/Parkin pathway in neurons. NACC1 overexpression could rescue the impacts of miR-361-3p mimics on cell apoptosis, ROS production and the PINK1/Parkin pathway. In conclusion, miR-361-3p could improve ischemia brain injury by targeting NACC1 through the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Therefore, miR-361-3p may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the brain injury after I/R.