IGF-1 reduced miR-186-5p inducing cell apoptosis. SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with the pCMV6 empty vector, pCMV6 + IGF-1, miR-NC, miR-186-mimisc, miR-186-mimisc + pCMV6-empty or miR-186-mimisc + pCMV6-IGF-1 in normal or OGD10h/R24 conditions. (A) IGF-1 mRNA expression was detected by qRT-PCR. (B) The protein expression of IGF-1 was analyzed by western blots. GAPDH was used as internal control. (C) Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining cells in different treatment groups were examined by flow cytometry. (D) Analysis of apoptotic rate. (E) A representative image of TUNEL assay was shown. TUNEL - positive cells, green; nuclei, blue. Scale bar: 100 μm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus pCMV6 + empty, miR-NC or control or miR-186-mimisc + pCMV6-empty group; results are representative of three separate independent experiments.