Adenoviruses-mediated RNA interference targeting cytosolic phospholipase A2α attenuates focal ischemic brain damage in mice

Cerebral ischemia injury is a clinical, frequently occurring disease, which causes a heavy burden on society and families. It has been demonstrated that cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) is significant in neurological injury caused by ischemic brain injury, and inhibition of cPLA2α may reduce stroke injury. In the present study, the role of cPLA2α was investigated in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and/or reperfusion (MCAO/R) using an effective cPLA2α inhibitor and adenoviruses‑mediated RNA interference. The most effective recombinant adenovirus encoding cPLA2α small interfering RNA (pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α) was constructed and selected. MCAO/R surgery is used to construct the model of focal ischemic brain damage in mice. Adenoviruses‑mediated RNA interference targeting cPLA2α was administered by stereotactic surgery 2 h before the MCAO/R. The expression/activity of cPLA2α and cPLA2α‑derived injurious lipid mediators was assessed. pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α‑treated animals (RNA interference; RNAi group) were compared with pAd-siRNA-control-treated animals (negative group) with regard to neurological deficit, motor function, pathological changes, apoptosis, and infarct volume. The RNAi group animals reduced the expression level of cPLA2α, as determined by western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the improvement of locomotor function was evaluated by rotarod test, and the decrease of apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end‑labeling staining. The decreased infarct areas were evaluated by 2,3,5‑triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The expression levels of prostaglandin E2, leukotrienes B4, lysophosphatidylcholine and free fatty acids were reduced in the RNAi group when compared with the negative control group. Thus, the data indicates that the expression level of cPLA2α was effectively controlled by pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α treatment. pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α treatment, in reducing the levels of inflammatory factors, neurological deficit and tissue damage, represents an effective potential therapeutic strategy. pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α reduces cPLA2α expression levels with long‑term efficacy, thereby improving functional deficits and effectively attenuating ischemic brain damage. Thus, pAd‑siRNA‑cPLA2α shows potential value for therapeutic evaluation in ischemic brain damage.