ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of overexpression of P2X4 gene on cell apoptosis in 6-OHDA (6-hydroxydopamine, 6-OHDA) induced PD rat model. Methods One hundred twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: 6-OHDA group, control group, objective RNA-P2X4 + 6-OHDA group, target gene RNA-P2X4 group, P2X4-NC + 6-OHDA group and negative virus P2X4-NC only group. Lentivirus or negative virus carrying the target gene and or 6-OHDA or the same amount of physiological saline were injected into the left substantia nigra of rats according to the groups. The number of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra was measured by immunofluorescence method.The expression levels of P2X4R,caspase-1 and NLRP3 in substantia nigra were detected by Western blot assay. Results Compared with P2X4-NC + 6-OHDA group, the expression of protein P2X4R (1.099 ± 0.05569 vs. 0.7821 ± 0.02008, P=0.0003 ), NLRP3 (0.9875 ± 0.01932 vs. 0.6645 ± 0.01747. P<0.0001), caspase-1 (0.9948 ± 0.01788 vs. 0.8276 ± 0.04543, P<0.0001) increased significantly in RNA-P2X4+6-OHDA group. Conclusion overexpression of P2X4 gene can increase the expression of NLPR3 and caspase-1 protein and promote apoptosis in PD rats.