MeCP2 inhibits ischemic neuronal injury by enhancing methylation of the FOXO3a promoter to repress the SPRY2-ZEB1 axis

Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is involved in nerve regeneration following ischemic stroke, but the related mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found low MeCP2 expression in hippocampal tissues. Using functional analysis, we demonstrated that MeCP2 accelerated FOXO3a methylation and subsequently inhibited its expression, thus repressing the apoptosis of neuronal cells. Mechanistically, FOXO3a could bind to the promoter region of SPRY2, consequently inducing its transcription and promoting the expression of the downstream target gene ZEB1. Altogether, our study revealed that overexpression of MeCP2 can protect mice against ischemic brain injury via disruption of the FOXO3a/SPRY2/ZEB1 signaling axis. Our results identify ectopic expression of MeCP2 as a therapeutic target in ischemic stroke.