Moreover, we demonstrated that DDIT4-AS1 regulates the inflammatory response by targeting DDIT4. Taken together, these findings reveal that DDIT4-AS1 regulates meningitic E. coli-induced neuroinflammation by promoting DDIT4 mRNA stability, providing novel nucleic acid targets for future prevention and treatment of bacterial meningitis. The gene discussed is DDIT4; the disease is bacterial meningitis.