Vagus nerve stimulation affects inflammatory response and anti-apoptosis reactions via regulating miR-210 in epilepsy rat model

Background Studies have shown that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) significantly reduces the frequency of seizures. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in cerebrospinal fluid are expected to become a new biomarker of epilepsy. Therefore, studying the interaction mechanism between the VNS and miRNAs is hopeful of bringing a new therapeutic direction for the treatment of epilepsy. Methods Kainic acid was used to induce the Sprague-Dawley rat epilepsy model, and the rats were treated with VNS. The miR-210 expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Racine score was adopted to evaluate the performance of behavioral seizures, whereas qRT-PCR and ELISA were employed to test inflammatory factors. Western blotting was implemented to testify the inflammatory and apoptotic proteins. Results Kainic acid-induced the Sprague-Dawley rat epilepsy model and upregulated the expression of miR-210, inflammatory response, inflammation and apoptosis-related proteins in brain tissues. In addition, compared with the epilepsy model group, miR-210 in the hippocampus of the epilepsy model rats treated with VNS was downregulated, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inflammatory factors was reduced. Moreover, after further inhibiting the expression of miR-210, the inhibition of VNS on epilepsy, inflammation and apoptosis were significantly enhanced. VNS relieves the inflammatory response and apoptosis of epileptic rats via inhibiting miR-210.