Knockdown of miR-29a-3p protects the injury of PC-12 cells induced by H2O2

This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-29a-3p on the injury of PC-12 cells induced by H2O2. PC-12 cells were collected to examine the mRNA levels of miR-29a-3p by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). siRNA was used to down-regulate miR-29a-3p expression in PC-12 cells and to observe the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to assess cell proliferation. The number of apoptotic cells was assessed using annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit. Flow cytometry analysis was used to assess total reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mRNA and protein levels of P13K, p-P13K, AKT, p-AKT were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The results showed that H2O2 inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of PC-12 cells, which induced injury of PC-12 cells. H2O2 promoted the expression of miR-29a-3p in PC-12 cells. The down-regulated miR-29a-3p reduced cell damage induced by H2O2 and alleviated the reduction of IGF1 expression. Moreover, the down-regulation of miR-29a-3p enhanced the expression levels of p-P13K/P13K, p-AKT/AKT, indicating that the down-regulation of miR-29a-3p activated PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, Knockdown miR-29a-3p protected the injury of PC-12 cell induced by H2O2 via negatively regulating the expression of IGF1 and the activation of PI3K/AKT pathway.