MiR-494-3p regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis via KLF7 in Schwann cells

Peripheral nerve injury is a common neurodegenerative disease, which causes disability and a huge economic burden for patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been acknowledged as major regulators and therapeutic targets of neurological disease. Thus, the functional studies of miRNAs in neurological disease will contribute to discover new therapeutic targets for peripheral nerve injury. Sprague Dawley rats treated sciatic nerve surgical injury were regarded as peripheral nerve injury model in vivo. The expression of miR-494-3p and Kruppel like factor7 (KLF7) were measured by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. In addition, western blot analysis was conducted to measure the protein levels of KLF7, Bax, Bcl-2, and C-caspase 3. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected in Schwann cells by EdU stain and flow cytometry, respectively. The interaction between miR-494-3p and KLF7 was investigated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of miR-494-3p was reduced at the beginning, but KLF7 was enhanced in Sprague Dawley rats with peripheral nerve injury. Knockdown of miR-494-3p promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis, while overexpression of miR-494-3p or silencing KLF7 led to opposite results. Moreover, the upregulation of KLF7 attenuated miR-494-3p overexpression-induced suppressive effects on viability and promotion of apoptosis in Schwann cells. MiR-494-3p negatively regulates KLF7 in Schwann cells to mediate proliferation and apoptosis.