Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Downregulation of FOXO4 promotes neuronal survival by mediating oxidative-stress–induced apoptosis after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Chunying Deng^1,2, Peilan Zhang¹ , Yun Zhang¹

¹Department of Neurology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin 300350; ²Department of Neurology, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital; 3Department of Geriatrics, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Tangshan City, Hebei Province 063000, China.

For correspondence:- Peilan Zhang Email: zhangpeilan666@163.com Tel:+8622-59065241

Accepted: 28 December 2020 Published: 31 January 2021

Citation: Deng C, Zhang P, Zhang Y. Downregulation of FOXO4 promotes neuronal survival by mediating oxidative-stress–induced apoptosis after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(1):23-28 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i1.4

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of FOXO4 on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CIR) injury and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: An in vitro ischemia/reperfusion (IR) model was achieved using oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). expression of RNA and protein was determined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Commercial kits were used to measure lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Results: Following OGD/R, FOXO4 mRNA and protein expressions were upregulated in SH-SY5H human neuroblastoma cells. ODG/R reduced cell proliferation and increased the proportion of apoptotic cells, and these effects were inhibited by knockdown of FOXO4 (p < 0.05). Levels of cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) were increased after ODG/R and these increases were inhibited by FOXO4 knockdown. ROS content and levels of LDH and MDA were increased after ODG/R and decreased by knockdown of FOXO4 (p < 0.05). Levels of CAT and SOD were reduced after ODG/R, and this reduction was reversed by knockdown of FOXO4 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that knockdown of FOXO4 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cellular apoptosis via reduction of oxidative stress after CIR injury, indicating a new therapeutic target for the treatment of CIR injury.

Keywords: FOXO4, Neuronal survival, Oxidative stress, Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury