The Role of LincRNA-EPS/Sirt1/Autophagy Pathway in the Neuroprotection Process by Hydrogen against OGD/R-Induced Hippocampal HT22 Cells Injury.

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury causes high disability and mortality. Hydrogen (H) enhances tolerance to an announced ischemic event; however, the therapeutic targets for the effective treatment of CI/R injury remain uncertain. Long non-coding RNA lincRNA-erythroid prosurvival (EPS) (lincRNA-EPS) regulate various biological processes, but their involvement in the effects of H and their associated underlying mechanisms still needs clarification. Herein, we examine the function of the lincRNA-EPS/Sirt1/autophagy pathway in the neuroprotection of H against CI/R injury. HT22 cells and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model were used to mimic CI/R injury in vitro. H, 3-MA (an autophagy inhibitor), and RAPA (an autophagy agonist) were then administered, respectively. Autophagy, neuro-proinflammation, and apoptosis were evaluated by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR, and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that H attenuated HT22 cell injury, which would be confirmed by the improved cell survival rate and decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, H remarkably improved cell injury after OGD/R insult via decreasing pro-inflammatory factors, as well as suppressing apoptosis. Intriguingly, the protection of H against neuronal OGD/R injury was abolished by rapamycin. Importantly, the ability of H to promote lincRNA-EPS and Sirt1 expression and inhibit autophagy were abrogated by the siRNA-lincRNA-EPS. Taken together, the findings proved that neuronal cell injury caused by OGD/R is efficiently prevented by H via modulating lincRNA-EPS/Sirt1/autophagy-dependent pathway. It was hinted that lincRNA-EPS might be a potential target for the H treatment of CI/R injury.