Inhibition of miR-423-5p Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in an Experimental Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely acknowledged to play a unique role in cerebrovascular disease. This research investigates the function of microRNAs in ischemic stroke via a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Four differentially expressed microRNAs in rat brains were identified by bioinformatics analysis, and qRT-PCR showed that miR-423-5p exhibited the highest expression in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, with peak levels observed at 24 hours. After microRNA inhibitors and mimics were administrated in the rat model of MCAO, the neurological scores and brain water content were detected, and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), and Nissl staining were conducted to explore the influence of miR-423-5p on ischemic stroke. Subsequently, western blot, ELISA, MPO, TUNEL and commercial assay kits were applied to assess the influence of miR-423-5p on NLRP3 inflammasome, apoptosis, and oxidative stress levels in ischemic penumbra tissue. The results showed that miR-423-5p knockdown could effectively improve neurological indicators, such as cerebral infarct volume, brain water content, neurological scores, and nerve tissue damage, and inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. In contrast, the miR-423-5p mimic yielded opposite results. In conclusion, inhibition of miR-423-5p expression could effectively attenuate ischemic stroke and might be considered a promising target for stroke.