Overexpression of miR-132 attenuates Alzheimer disease-like learning and memory impairment

AIM: To obtain miR-132 lentivirus and to detect the effect of miR-132 overexpression on the improvement of learning and memory impairment in Tg2576 mice. METHODS: The pri-miR-132 gene was purified from mouse brain and cloned into lentivirus vector pLenti7.3-miR-132. The miR-132 lentivirus was packaged by co-transfected pLenti7.3-miR-132 with ViraPower Packaging Mix into 293FT cells. The miR-132 lentivirus was purified 72 h later from the supernatant by ultracentrifugation and poly(ethylene glycol) method. The efficiency of miR-132 lentivirus was identified by transfection into N2A cells and mouse hippocampus region. Tg2576 mice were injected with miR-132 virus in the hippocampus region and the expression of learning- and memory-related proteins and functions were determined. RESULTS: miR-132 lentivirus expression vector was constructed successfully. The purified virus was obtained with transfection activity. Tg2576 mice with overexpression of miR-132 had a significant improvement in learning and memory abilities. CONCLUSION: miR-132 lentivirus with biological activity was obtained. Overexpression of miR-132 in the hippocampus region of Tg2576 mice attenuates the learning and memory impairment.