RNA-seq expression profiling of rat MCAO model following reperfusion Orexin-A

• Published in: Oncotarget Vol. 8; no. 68; pp. 113066 - 113081
• Main Authors: Wang, Chun-Mei, Pan, Yan-You, Liu, Ming-Hui, Cheng, Bao-Hua, Bai, Bo, Chen, Jing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Impact Journals LLC 22.12.2017
• Subjects: Research Paper; RNA sequencing; ischemia-reperfusion injury; differential gene expression; gene network; Orexin-A
• ISSN: 1949-2553; 1949-2553
• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22995

Orexin-A is a neuropeptide with potent neuroprotective activity towards cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, but few studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanism. Herein, we performed global gene expression profiling of the hippocampus following reperfusion with Orexin-A using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). RNA-seq identified 649 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Orexin-A group compared with saline controls (I/R group), of which 149 were up-regulated and 500 were down-regulated. DEGs were confirmed using qRT-PCR, their molecular functions, biological processes and molecular components were explored using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and 206 KEGG pathways were associated with Orexin-A treatment. MAPK, chemokine and calcium signalling pathways were mainly responsible for the neuroprotective effects of Orexin-A. Hspb1, Igf2 and Ptk2b were selected for functional interaction analysis by GeneMANIA. The results suggest that Orexin-A modifies gene expression in the hippocampus, leading to neuroprotection from I/R injury. The study provides a basis for future elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying Orexin-A.