Effect of transient focal ischemia on circular RNAs

To investigate the potential involvement of circRNA in ischemic pathophysiology, we performed a circRNA microarray in an established transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model of stroke. We evaluated the expression of 1797 circRNAs in adult mice brain after tMCAO. In our study, 5 of the 1178 circRNAs analyzed in the circRNA array were up-regulated significantly, ≥1.5-fold, in ischemic cortex at 12 hours of reperfusion after MCAO compared with their levels in sham group. Ischemia induced circular RNA expression in ipsilateral ischemic cortex in mice was measured at 12 hours of reperfusion after 1 hour occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA). Sham-operated mice served as control. Sham-operated mice received the same surgery except for the insertion of the filament. Three independent samples from tMCAO group and three independent samples from sham group were employed in Arraystar Mouse circRNA Array (8x15K, Arraystar) analysis.