The long noncoding RNA Arrl1 inhibits neurite outgrowth by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA during neuronal regeneration in rats
Dong Wang, Yanping Chen, Mingwen Liu, Qianqian Cao, Qihui Wang, Shuoshuo Zhou, Yaxian Wang, Susu Mao, Xiaosong Gu, Zhen‐Ge Luo, Bin Yu
Abstract
and improved functional recovery of the sciatic nerve. Moreover, inhibiting an identified target gene of Arrl1, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (Cdkn2b), markedly promoted neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons. We also found that Arrl1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA that sponges a Cdkn2b repressor, microRNA-761 (miR-761), and thereby up-regulates Cdkn2b expression during neuron regeneration. We conclude that the lncRNA Arrl1 affects the intrinsic regeneration of DRG neurons by derepressing Cdkn2b expression. Our findings indicate a role for an lncRNA-microRNA-kinase pathway in the regulation of axon regeneration and functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury in rats.