90% to 95% transfection efficiency in rat primary mature cortical neurons (DIV 14-21) using NeuroMag

Mature (14 - 21 DIV) primary cortical neurons from E18 Sprague Dawley rat embryos were transfected with NeuroMag.

This article demonstrates the high efficiency of NeuroMag transfection reagent from OZ Biosciences to transfect mature primary cortical neurons with high efficiency. In this study, NeuroMag transfection reagent allowed to obtain an efficiency of transfections of 90–95% for as previously demonstrated (Wong et al., 2013).

article reference: J Neurosci. 2013 Sep 11;33(37):14645-59.

MiR-26b, Upregulated in Alzheimer's Disease, Activates Cell Cycle Entry, Tau-Phosphorylation, and Apoptosis in Postmitotic Neurons.

Absalon S, Kochanek DM, Raghavan V, Krichevsky AM.

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA) functions in the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are only beginning to emerge. We have observed significantly elevated levels of a specific miRNA, miR-26b, in the defined pathological areas of human postmortem brains, starting from early stages of AD (Braak III). Ectopic overexpression of miR-26b in rat primary postmitotic neurons led to the DNA replication and aberrant cell cycle entry (CCE) and, in parallel, increased tau-phosphorylation, which culminated in the apoptotic cell death of neurons. Similar tau hyperphosphorylation and CCE are typical features of neurons in pre-AD brains. Sequence-specific inhibition of miR-26b in culture is neuroprotective against oxidative stress. Retinoblastoma protein (Rb1), a major tumor suppressor, appears as the key direct miR-26b target, which mediates the observed neuronal phenotypes. The downstream signaling involves upregulation of Rb1/E2F cell cycle and pro-apoptotic transcriptional targets, including cyclin E1, and corresponding downregulation of cell cycle inhibitor p27/Kip1. It further leads to nuclear export and activation of Cdk5, a major kinase implicated in tau phosphorylation, regulation of cell cycle, and death in postmitotic neurons. Therefore, upregulation of miR-26b in neurons causes pleiotropic phenotypes that are also observed in AD. Elevated levels of miR-26b may thus contribute to the AD neuronal pathology.

NeuroMag is the first dedicated Magnetofection ™ transfection reagent for neurons. It is perfect for primary neurons and can also be used with cell lines and glial cells. The transfection can be performed with neurons from 3 DIV to 21 DIV.