LncRNA MIAT overexpression reduced neuron apoptosis in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic injury through miR-211/GDNF

<b>Objective</b>: To investigate the underlying mechanism of lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in hypoxic-ischemic (HI)-induced neonatal cerebral palsy. <b>Materials and methods</b>: Neonatal rat model of HI injury was established to detect the motor function. LncRNA MIAT, miR-211, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and caspase-3 expressions were measured by qRT-PCR or western blot. The apoptosis of Neuro2A cells was detected by flow cytometry. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were performed to confirm the interaction between MIAT and miR-211. <b>Results</b>: Compared with control group, lncRNA MIAT and GDNF were downregulated in striatal tissues of neonatal rats in HI group and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced ischemic injury of Neuro2A cells, whereas miR-211 was up-regulated in striatal tissues of HI group and OGD-induced ischemic injury of Neuro2A cells. LncRNA MIAT interacted with miR-211, and lncRNA MIAT overexpression reduced neuron apoptosis through miR-211. Besides, GDNF expression was positively regulated by lncRNA MIAT and negatively regulated by miR-211 in Neuro2A cells. <i>In vivo</i> experiment proved MIAT promoted motor function and relieved HI injury. <b>Conclusion</b>: MIAT overexpression reduced apoptosis of Neuro2A cells through miR-211/GDNF, which relieved HI injury of neonatal rats.