title: Effect of propofol on microRNA expression in rat primary embryonic neural stem cells.
abstract: Propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic that is well-known for its protective effect in various human and animal disease models. However, the effects of propofol on neurogenesis, especially on the development of neural stem cells (NSCs), remains unknown. Related microRNAs may act as important regulators in this process.
  
  
  
  Published Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) DataSets related to propofol were selected and re-analyzed to screen neural development-related genes and predict microRNA (miRNA) expression using bioinformatic methods. Screening of the genes and miRNAs was then validated by qRT-PCR analysis of propofol-treated primary embryonic NSCs.
  
  
  
  Four differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in the screen and 19 miRNAs were predicted based on a published GEO DataSet. Two of four mRNAs and four of 19 predicted miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR analysis of propofol-treated NSCs. Rno-miR-19a (Rno, Rattus Norvegicus) and rno-miR-137, and their target gene EGR2, as well as rno-miR-19b-2 and rno-miR-214 and their target gene ARC were found to be closely related to neural developmental processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of NSCs.
  
  
  
  Propofol influences miRNA expression; however, further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effects of propofol on the four miRNAs and their target genes identified in this study. In particular, the influence of propofol on the entire development process of NSCs remains to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. qzsmzk@163.com.
authors.forename: Zaisheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nan Fang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. taotaomzk@smu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; C497328:Egr2 protein, rat; C000595679:MIRN137 microRNA, rat; C586754:MIRN19 microRNA, rat; D035683:MicroRNAs; C559947:Mirn214 microRNA, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein; D015742:Propofol
keywords: Neural stem cells; Neurogenesis; Propofol; microRNA