Sevoflurane protects against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury by modulating microRNA-200c regulation in mice

Sevoflurane Affects Myocardial Autophagy Levels After Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury via the microRNA-542-3p/ADAM9 Axis

This research focused on investigating the effects of sevoflurane (Sev) on myocardial autophagy levels after myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury via the microRNA-542-3p (miR-542-3p)/ADAM9 axis. Mice underwent 30 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary (LAD) followed by 2 h reperfusion. Cardiac infarction was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride triazole (TTC) staining. Cardiac function was examined by echocardiography. Cardiac markers and oxidative stress factors were evaluated by ELISA. Autophagy-associated factors were detected by western blot. Relationship between miR-542-3p and ADAM9 was tested by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Sev treatment ameliorated cardiac dysfunction, myocardial oxidative stress, and histopathological damages, decreased myocardial infarction size and myocardial apoptotic cells after myocardial I/R injury. Sev treatment elevated miR-542-3p expression and decreased ADAM9 expression in myocardial tissues after myocardial I/R injury. miR-542-3p overexpression could enhance the ameliorative effects of Sev on myocardial injury and myocardial autophagy in I/R mice. miR-542-3p targeted and negatively regulated ADAM9 expression. ADAM9 overexpression reversed the ameliorative effects of miR-542-3p up-regulation on myocardial injury and myocardial autophagy in Sev-treated I/R mice. Sev treatment could ameliorate myocardial injury and myocardial autophagy in I/R mice, mediated by mechanisms that include miR-542-3p up-regulation and ADAM9 down-regulation.

Effects of sevoflurane and fullerenol C60 on lower limb ischemia-reperfusion injury in streptozocin-induced diabetic mice

BACKGROUND

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) poses a significant challenge for physicians, necessitating the management of cell damage and the preservation of organ functions. Various surgical procedures, such as vascular surgery on extremities, temporary cross-clamping of the abdominal aorta in aortic surgery, and the use of a tourniquet in extremity surgeries, may induce lower limb IRI. The susceptibility to IRI is heightened in individuals with diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fullerenol C60 and sevoflurane on mouse muscle tissue in a lower limb IRI model and to assess their potential in preventing complications arising from ischemia-reperfusion in mice with streptozocin-induced diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 36 adult Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into six groups, each consisting of six mice: control group (group C), diabetes group (group D), diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion group (group DIR), diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion-fullerenol C60 group (group DIR-FC60), diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion-sevoflurane group (group DIR-S), and diabetes-ischemia/reperfusion-sevoflurane-fullerenol C60 group (DIR-S-FC60). Streptozocin (55 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to induce diabetes in the relevant groups, with mice displaying blood glucose levels of 250 mg/dL or higher at 72 h were considered diabetic. After 4 weeks, all groups underwent laparotomy under anesthesia. In DIR-FC60 and DIR-S-FC60 groups, fullerenol C60 (100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administrated 30 min before the ischemia period. Sevoflurane, delivered in 100% oxygen at a rate of 2.3% and 4 L/min, was administered during the ischemia period in DIR-S and DIR-S-FC60 groups. In the IR groups, a microvascular clamp was placed on the infrarenal abdominal aorta for 120 min during the ischemia period, followed by the removal of the clamp and a 120-min reperfusion period. At the end of the reperfusion, gastrocnemius muscle tissues were removed for histopathological and biochemical parameter examinations.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination revealed a significant reduction in the disorganization and degeneration of muscle cells in the DIR-S-FC60 group compared to the DIR group (p = 0.041). Inflammatory cell infiltration was notably lower in the DIR-S, DIR-FC60, and DIR-S-FC60 groups than in the DIR group (p = 0.031, p = 0.011, and p = 0.013, respectively). The total damage scores in the DIR-FC60 and DIR-S-FC60 groups were significantly lower than in the DIR group (p = 0.018 and p = 0.008, respectively). Furthermore, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the DIR-S, DIR-FC60, and DIR-S-FC60 groups were significantly lower than in the DIR group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in the DIR-S, DIR-FC60, and DIR-S-FC60 groups was higher than in the DIR group (p = 0.001, p = 0.014, and p < 0.001, respectively). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity in the DIR-FC60 and DIR-S-FC60 groups was also higher than in the DIR group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that administering fullerenol C60 30 min prior to ischemia in diabetic mice, in combination with sevoflurane, led to a reduction in oxidative stress and the correction of IR-related damage in muscle tissue histopathology. We believe that the administration of fullerenol C60 before IR, coupled with sevoflurane administration during IR, exerts a protective effect in mice.

Interaction of TAGLN and USP1 promotes ZEB1 ubiquitination degradation in UV-induced skin photoaging

BACKGROUND

Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation can lead to skin damage and premature skin aging known as photoaging. This work found that UVA irradiation caused an imbalance between dermal matrix synthesis and degradation through the aberrant upregulation of transgelin (TAGLN) and studied the underlying molecular mechanism.

RESULTS

Co-immunoprecipitation and proximal ligation assay results showed that TAGLN can interact with USP1. USP1 can be retained in the cytoplasm by TAGLN in UVA-induced cells, which inhibits the interaction between USP1/zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), promote the ubiquitination degradation of ZEB1, and lead to photoaging. TAGLN knockdown can release USP1 retention and help human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) resist UVA-induced damage. The interactive interface inhibitors of TAGLN/USP1 were screened via virtual docking to search for small molecules that inhibit photoaging. Zerumbone (Zer), a natural product isolated from Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, was screened out. Zer can competitively bind TAGLN to reduce the retention of USP1 in the cytoplasm and the degradation of ZEB1 ubiquitination in UV-induced HSFs. The poor solubility and permeability of Zer can be improved by preparing it as a nanoemulsion, which can effectively prevent skin photoaging caused by UVA in wild-type (WT) mice. Zer cannot effectively resist the photoaging caused by UVA in Tagln^-/- mice because of target loss.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results showed that the interaction of TAGLN and USP1 can promote ZEB1 ubiquitination degradation in UV-induced skin photoaging, and Zer can be used as an interactive interface inhibitor of TAGLN/USP1 to prevent photoaging.

Research progress of lncRNA and miRNA in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a common complication of liver surgeries, such as hepatectomy and liver transplantation. In recent years, several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as factors involved in the pathological progression of HIRI. In this review, we summarized the latest research on lncRNAs, miRNAs and the lncRNA-miRNA regulatory networks in HIRI.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published up to December 2021 using the following keywords: "hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury", "lncRNA", "long non-coding RNA", "miRNA" and "microRNA". The bibliography of the selected articles was manually screened to identify additional studies.

RESULTS

The mechanism of HIRI is complex, and involves multiple lncRNAs and miRNAs. The roles of lncRNAs such as AK139328, CCAT1, MALAT1, TUG1 and NEAT1 have been established in HIRI. In addition, numerous miRNAs are associated with apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and cellular inflammation that accompany HIRI pathogenesis. Based on the literature, we conclude that four lncRNA-miRNA regulatory networks mediate the pathological progression of HIRI. Furthermore, the expression levels of some lncRNAs and miRNAs undergo significant changes during the progression of HIRI, and thus are potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSIONS

Complex lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks regulate HIRI progression through mutual activation and antagonism. It is necessary to screen for more HIRI-associated lncRNAs and miRNAs in order to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Experimental and Clinical Aspects of Sevoflurane Preconditioning and Postconditioning to Alleviate Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: A Scoping Review

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inflammatory process inherent in organ transplantation procedures. It is associated with tissue damage and, depending on its intensity, can impact early graft function. In liver transplantation (LT), strategies to alleviate IRI are essential in order to increase the use of extended criteria donor (ECD) grafts, which are more susceptible to IRI, as well as to improve postoperative graft and patient outcomes. Sevoflurane, a commonly used volatile anesthetic, has been shown to reduce IRI. This scoping review aims to give a comprehensive overview of the existing experimental and clinical data regarding the potential benefits of sevoflurane for hepatic IRI (HIRI) and to identify any gaps in knowledge to guide further research. We searched Medline and Embase for relevant articles. A total of 380 articles were identified, 45 of which were included in this review. In most experimental studies, the use of sevoflurane was associated with a significant decrease in biomarkers of acute liver damage and oxidative stress. Administration of sevoflurane before hepatic ischemia (preconditioning) or after reperfusion (postconditioning) appears to be protective. However, in the clinical setting, results are conflicting. While some studies showed a reduction of postoperative markers of liver injury, the benefit of sevoflurane on clinical outcomes and graft survival remains unclear. Further prospective clinical trials remain necessary to assess the clinical relevance of the use of sevoflurane as a protective factor against HIRI.

Sevoflurane reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis and pulmonary fibrosis in the RAW264.7 cells and mice models to ameliorate acute lung injury by eliminating oxidative damages

Objectives

Sevoflurane is identified as an effective candidate drug for acute lung injury (ALI) treatment, but its curing effects and detailed mechanisms have not been fully disclosed. The present study was designed to resolve this academic issue.

Methods

The ALI mice models were established, and Hematoxylin-eosin staining assay was performed to examine tissue morphologies. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay, and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay was used to examine cell apoptosis. The expression levels of proteins were determined by performing Western Blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining assay. ROS levels were examined by using DCFH-DA staining assay.

Results

In this study, we investigated this issue and the ALI models were respectively established by treating the BALB/c mice and the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo and in vitro, which were subsequently subjected to sevoflurane co-treatment. The results showed that sevoflurane reduced LPS-induced ALI in mice and suppressed LPS-triggered oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in the RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, we evidenced that the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reversed LPS-induced cell apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells. Then, we verified that sevoflurane suppressed oxidative damages to restrain LPS-induced apoptotic cell death in the RAW264.7 cells through activating the anti-oxidant Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Mechanistically, sevoflurane down-regulated Keap1 and upregulated Nrf2 in nucleus to activate the downstream anti-oxidant signaling cascades, which further ameliorated LPS-induced cell apoptosis and lung injury by eliminating oxidative damages.

Discussion

Taken together, our study illustrated that the sevoflurane attenuates LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated apoptotic cell death and inflammation, and the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway played an important role in this process.

Molecular Mechanisms of Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury and Regeneration in the Liver-Shock and Surgery-Associated Changes

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) represents a major challenge during liver surgery, liver preservation for transplantation, and can cause hemorrhagic shock with severe hypoxemia and trauma. The reduction of blood supply with a concomitant deficit in oxygen delivery initiates various molecular mechanisms involving the innate and adaptive immune response, alterations in gene transcription, induction of cell death programs, and changes in metabolic state and vascular function. Hepatic IRI is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and is associated with an increased risk for tumor growth and recurrence after oncologic surgery for primary and secondary hepatobiliary malignancies. Therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat hepatic IRI have been investigated in animal models but, for the most part, have failed to provide a protective effect in a clinical setting. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic IRI and regeneration, as well as its clinical implications. A better understanding of this complex and highly dynamic process may allow for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches and optimize patient outcomes.

Sevoflurane up-regulates miR-7a to protect against ischemic brain injury in rats by down-regulating ATG7 and reducing neuronal autophagy

The current study aimed to elucidate the effects of Sevoflurane on neuronal autophagy and ischemic brain injury by regulating miR-7a/ATG7 axis. The rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established by thread embolization. The expression pattern of microRNA-7a (miR-7a) and autophagy-related gene 7 (ATG7) was subsequently determined in Sevoflurane-treated MCAO rats with their relation and effects on neuronal autophagy and ischemic brain injury further analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that miR-7a could target to inhibit ATG7 in ischemic brain injury samples. Sevoflurane could alleviate ischemic brain injury in rats by reducing the level of neuronal autophagy-related factors. The expression of miR-7a was up-regulated and ATG7 was down-regulated in the brain tissues of MCAO rats after Sevoflurane treatment. ATG7 was found to induce neuronal autophagy during autophagy in the brain tissues of MCAO rats. In summary, Sevoflurane exerts protective effects on ischemic brain injury via inhibiting autophagy of neurons and microglia through the miR-7a-mediated downregulation of ATG7.

Targeting the Hepatic Microenvironment to Improve Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: New Insights into the Immune and Metabolic Compartments

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is mainly characterized by high activation of immune inflammatory responses and metabolic responses. Understanding the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying development of hepatic IRI is critical for developing effective therapies for hepatic IRI. Recent advances in research have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of IRI. During IRI, hepatocyte injury and inflammatory responses are mediated by crosstalk between the immune cells and metabolic components. This crosstalk can be targeted to treat or reverse hepatic IRI. Thus, a deep understanding of hepatic microenvironment, especially the immune and metabolic responses, can reveal new therapeutic opportunities for hepatic IRI. In this review, we describe important cells in the liver microenvironment (especially non-parenchymal cells) that regulate immune inflammatory responses. The role of metabolic components in the diagnosis and prevention of hepatic IRI are discussed. Furthermore, recent updated therapeutic strategies based on the hepatic microenvironment, including immune cells and metabolic components, are highlighted.

Sevoflurane activates MEF2D-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via microRNA-374b-5p to affect renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND

The inhaled sevoflurane (Sev) has been demonstrated to protect multiple organs against ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). However, the mechanisms of Sev in renal IRI remain largely unknown. This study intends to explore the effect of Sev on renal IRI and the molecular mechanism behind.

METHODS

Following Sev preconditioning, a mouse model with renal IRI was established. The effects of Sev on IRI in mice were assessed by BUN, Scr, MDA and SOD kits, Western blot, HE staining, and TUNEL. Subsequently, we performed microarray analysis on renal tissues from mice with Sev to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs). Then, the mice were treated with agomiR-374b-5p combined with Sev to observe the renal histopathology after IRI. The targeting mRNA of miR-374b-5p was verified using bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assay, followed by KEGG enrichment analysis. Rescue experiments were implemented with simultaneous miR-374b-5p and MEF2D overexpression to detect renal histopathology and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in the mice.

RESULTS

Sev significantly reduced the levels of BUN and Scr in mouse serum, prevented cell apoptosis, decreased MDA content and increased SOD levels in renal tissues. Moreover, Sev downregulated the miR-374b-5p expression in the renal tissues. Overexpression of miR-374b-5p attenuated the protective effects of Sev on mouse renal tissues. miR-374b-5p targeted MEF2D and blocked the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Overexpression of MEF2D activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and attenuated the supporting effects of miR-374b-5p on renal IRI.

CONCLUSION

Sev promotes MEF2D and activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through inhibition of miR-374b-5p expression to affect renal IRI.

Hepatoprotective effects of sevoflurane against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating microRNA-124-3p-mediated TRAF3/CREB axis

The purpose of the present study is to define the role of sevoflurane (SEV) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury as well as its underlying mechanism. Initially, hepatic I/R animal models and I/R hepatocyte models were established in C57BL/6 mice and normal mouse hepatocytes (BNL CL.2) after SEV preconditioning, respectively, followed by detection of microRNA-124-3p (miR-124-3p), TRAF3, and CREB expression by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. In addition, miR-124-3p, TRAF3 and CREB expression in hepatocytes was altered to identify their roles in modulating the levels of glutathione transferase (GST), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and inflammation-related factors and hepatocyte apoptosis by ELISA and flow cytometry respectively. The effects of SEV on the miR-124-3p/TRAF3/CREB axis were also verified in vitro and in vivo. IP assay was performed to verify the effect of TRAF3 on CREB ubiquitination in BNL CL.2 cells, and the cycloheximide (CHX) intervention experiment to detect the stability of CREB protein. SEV augmented the miR-124-3p expression in I/R animal and cell models. Moreover, SEV was observed to suppress I/R-induced liver damage, GST, ALT, and AST levels, hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammation. Overexpression of miR-124-3p resulted in alleviation of hepatic I/R injury, which was countered by TRAF3 overexpression. miR-124-3p targeted TRAF3, while TRAF3 promoted CREB ubiquitination and reduced protein stability of CREB. SEV could impede I/R-induced liver damage, GST, ALT, and AST levels, hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammation via mediation of the miR-124-3p/TRAF3/CREB axis in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, SEV may upregulate miR-124-3p to inhibit TRAF3 expression, thereby reducing the ubiquitination and degradation of CREB, alleviating hepatic I/R injury.

Sevoflurane attenuates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury by the miR-122/Nrf2 pathway

Background

Sevoflurane can protect organs from ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, but the mechanism is still unclear. MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is a liver-specific microRNA (miRNA) and regulates liver function. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the relationship between the protective effect of sevoflurane and miR-122 in liver IR injury.

Methods

Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: sham, IR, IR + sevoflurane, IR + miR-122 antagomir, and IR + miR-122 antagomir + sevoflurane. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Suzuki score were used to evaluate the pathological damage of the liver. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO) in the liver homogenate supernatant were detected by using the corresponding kit. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the apoptosis of liver tissues. The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), miR-122, p53, and HO-1 in liver tissue was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blot as needed.

Results

Compared to the IR group, the sevoflurane post-treatment or miR-122 antagomir groups showed improved liver injury, decreased Suzuki score, inhibited the levels of AST, ALT, LDH, MDA, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, increased levels of SOD, IL-10, and inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis. Regarding the molecular mechanism, sevoflurane post-treatment fostered the expression of HO-1, promoted the transport of Nrf2 from cytoplasm to the nucleus, and decreased the expression of miR-122 and p53. The combined use of miR-122 antagomir and sevoflurane enhanced the protective effect of miR-122 antagomir in liver injury in IR rats.

Conclusions

Sevoflurane protected the liver from IR damage by regulating the miR-122/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Propofol postconditioning alleviates diabetic myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion injury via the miR‑200c‑3p/AdipoR2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/RI) syndrome is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability. Propofol postconditioning is known to improve myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). The present study aimed to explore the mechanism of propofol postconditioning in diabetic MI/RI. Diabetic MI/RI rat models were established and the rats were treated via propofol postconditioning. Staining with 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride, H&E staining, TUNEL staining and ELISA were applied to detect infarct size, pathological changes, apoptosis and oxidative stress-related factor and apoptotic factor levels, respectively. Subsequently, the effect of propofol on H9C2 cells was also assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. High-glucose hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) models of H9C2 cardiomyocytes were established. miR-200c-3p overexpression or AdipoR2 silencing combined with propofol postconditioning was performed in H/R-induced H9C2 cells and STAT3 protein expression levels were determined. Propofol postconditioning significantly reduced myocardial infarct size, oxidative stress and apoptosis in diabetic MI/RI models. Furthermore, propofol postconditioning significantly reduced the oxidative stress and apoptosis of H9C2 cells in high-glucose H/R models. Propofol postconditioning also significantly downregulated miR-200c-3p expression levels and promoted AdipoR2 expression levels. miR-200c-3p overexpression or AdipoR2 downregulation significantly reversed the effects of propofol postconditioning on its antioxidation and anti-apoptotic effects in H9C2 cells and on decreasing STAT3 phosphorylation levels. Together, the results of the present study demonstrated that propofol postconditioning inhibited miR-200c-3p, upregulated AdipoR2 and activated the STAT3 signaling pathway, thus alleviating diabetic MI/RI and therefore highlighting its potential as a treatment of diabetic MI/RI.

Role of microRNA‑218‑5p in sevoflurane‑induced protective effects in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury mice by regulating GAB2/PI3K/AKT pathway

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (HIRI) often occurs following tissue resection, hemorrhagic shock or transplantation surgery. Previous investigations showed that sevoflurane (Sevo), an inhalation anesthetic, had protective properties against different organ damage in animal models including HIRI. This study is aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the protective effects of Sevo on HIRI. The present study results showed that treatment with Sevo improved histologic damage, inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis after hepatic I/R, indicating the protective role of Sevo against liver I/R injury. Importantly, in order to determine the molecular mechanism of Sevo in HIRI, the focus of the study was on microRNA (miR) regulation. By retrieving the microarray data in the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset (GSE72315), miR-218-5p was found to be significantly downregulated by Sevo. Moreover, miR-218-5p overexpression using agomiR-218-5p reversed the protective roles of Sevo against HIRI. Furthermore, GAB2, a positive regulator of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, was found as a target gene of miR-218-5p. It was also found that the Sevo-mediated protective effects may be dependent on the activation of GAB2/PI3K/AKT. Collectively, these data revealed that Sevo alleviated HIRI in mice by restraining apoptosis, relieving oxidative stress and inflammatory response through the miR-218-5p/GAB2/PI3K/AKT pathway, which helps in understanding the novel mechanism of the hepatic-protection of Sevo.

mir-221, mir-190b, mir-363-3p, mir-200c are involved in rat liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury through oxidative stress, apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIM

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between expression levels of micro-RNAs, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.

METHODS

Sixteen rats were randomised into two groups: Sham and IR groups. In the IR group, portal vein and hepatic artery were totally clamped with an atraumatic microvascular clamp and 60 minutes later unclamped and finally IR model was accomplished (60 minutes ischaemia and 60 minutes reperfusion). After sacrification, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Liver tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. The expression levels of IR1-alpha, Perk, Catalase, Gpx-1, Caspase-3, Bcl-2 genes and miR-33a, miR-221, miR-190b, miR-363-3p, miR-200c, miR-223, miR-133b were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method.

RESULTS

Biochemical parameters of the IR group showed significantly higher changes compared with the Sham group (P < .01). Histological tissue damage was significantly prominent in the IR group. ER stress, oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression levels were significantly higher in the IR group (P < .01). Expression levels of miR-221, miR-190b, miR-363-3p and miR-200c were increased in the IR group compared with the Sham group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of miR-33a, miR-133b and miR-223 expression levels (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

There is a strong need to enlighten the physiopathological and molecular mechanisms of liver IR injury and to find more specific biomarkers for IR damage, and miR-221, miR-190b, miR-363-3p and miR-200c maybe used as potential biomarkers of hepatic IR injury.

Targeting miRNAs with anesthetics in cancer: Current understanding and future perspectives

Anesthetics are extensively used during cancer surgeries. The progression of cancer can be influenced by perioperative events such as exposure to general or local anesthesia. However, whether they inhibit cancer or act as a causative factor for metastasis and exert deleterious effects on cancer growth differs based on the type of cancer and the therapy administration. Recent experimental data suggested that many of the most commonly used anesthetics in surgical oncology, whether general or local agents, can alter gene expression and cause epigenetic changes via modulating miRNAs. miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at various levels, and their dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of cancers. However, anesthetics via regulating miRNAs can concurrently target several effectors of cellular signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, and viability. This review summarized the current research about the effects of different anesthetics in regulating cancer, with a particular emphasis on the role of miRNAs. A significant number of studies conducted in this area of research illuminate the effects of anesthetics on the regulation of miRNA expression; therefore, we hope that a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of miRNA in the context of anesthesia-induced cancer regulation could help to define optimal anesthetic regimens and provide better perspectives for further studies.

Inhibition of microRNA-297 alleviates THLE-2 cell injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via SIRT3

It has been acknowledged that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) assume a critical role in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced hepatocyte injury. Therefore, cell experiments were performed in this study to investigate the mechanism of miR-297 in H/R-induced hepatocyte injury with the involvement of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and NLRP3. Initially, THLE-2 cells were utilized for H/R challenge. After miR-297 antagomir and NLRP3 adenovirus vector delivery, THLE-2 cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT, EdU and TUNEL assays, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to evaluate the levels of apoptosis-related indicators (Bax and Bcl-2) and inflammation-related indicators (IL-6 and IL-10), western blot analysis to detect NLRP3 and Cleaved Caspase-1 expression. The binding relation between miR-297 and SIRT3 was examined using dual-luciferase assay. The results showed that miR-297 antagomir repressed the apoptosis and inflammation induced by H/R treatment in THLE-2 cells. Mechanistically, miR-297 antagomir diminished the extent of IκBα and NF-κB phosphorylation and NLRP3 activation in H/R-induced THLE-2 cells by targeting SIRT3. Furthermore, NLRP3 overexpression normalized the promoting effects of miR-297 antagomir on proliferation and its inhibitory effects on apoptosis and inflammation in H/R-induced THLE-2 cells. In summary, our results elucidated that miR-297 antagomir repressed H/R-induced THLE-2 cell injury via SIRT3 promotion and NLRP3 inactivation.

Downregulation of miR-497-5p prevents liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in association with MED1/TIMP-2 axis and the NF-κB pathway

Liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common clinical pathological phenomenon, which is accompanied by the occurrence in liver transplantation. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in liver I/R injury. Therefore, the study of miRNAs function will contribute a new biological marker diagnosis of liver I/R injury. This study aims to evaluate effects of miR-497-5p in liver I/R injury in mice. The related regulatory factors of miR-497-5p in liver I/R injury were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Vascular occlusion was performed to establish the liver I/R injury animal models. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was performed to establish the in vitro models. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was conducted to assess liver injury. The inflammatory factors were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry was adopted to assess the cell apoptosis. The expression of miR-497b-5p was increased in liver I/R injury. Knockdown of miR-497b-5p inhibited the production of inflammatory factors and cell apoptosis. Overexpression of mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) inhibited cell apoptosis to alleviate liver I/R injury. miR-497b-5p could activate the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway by inhibiting the MED1/TIMP-2 axis to promote liver I/R injury. This study may provide a new strategy for the treatment of liver I/R injury.

Sevoflurane alleviates hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury by up-regulating miR-96 and down-regulating FOXO4

Hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury represents an event characterized by anoxic cell death and an inflammatory response, that can limit the treatment efficacy of liver surgery. Ischaemic preconditioning agents such as sevoflurane (Sevo) have been highlighted to play protective roles in hepatic I/R injury. The current study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the effects associated with Sevo in hepatic I/R injury. Initially, mouse hepatic I/R injury models were established via occlusion of the hepatic portal vein and subsequent reperfusion. The expression of forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4) was detected using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis from clinical liver tissue samples obtained from patients who had previously undergone liver transplantation, mouse I/R models and oxygen-deprived hepatocytes. The morphology of the liver tissues was analysed using haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, with apoptosis detected via TUNEL staining. Immunohistochemistry methods were employed to identify the FOXO4-positive cells. Mice with knocked out FOXO4 (FOXO4-KO mice) were subjected to I/R. In this study, we found FOXO4 was highly expressed following hepatic I/R injury. After treatment with Sevo, I/R modelled mice exhibited an alleviated degree of liver injury, fewer apoptotic cells and FOXO4-positive cells. FOXO4 was a target gene of miR-96. Knockdown of FOXO4 could alleviate hepatic I/R injury and decrease cell apoptosis. Taken together, the key observations of our study suggest that Sevo alleviates hepatic I/R injury by means of promoting the expression of miR-96 while inhibiting FOXO4 expression. This study highlights the molecular mechanism mediated by Sevo in hepatic I/R injury.

Sevoflurane Postconditioning Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Limiting HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB Pathway via Modulating microRNA-142 in vivo and in vitro

Preconditioning of sevoflurane (Sevo) has been demonstrated to protect the liver from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, it is unknown whether it has hepatoprotective when given at the onset of reperfusion (postconditioning), a protocol with more clinical impact. The present study aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effects of Sevo postconditioning against hepatic IR injury in vivo and in vitro and the possible mechanisms. Using a mouse model of hepatic I/R, Sevo postconditioning significantly improved hepatic injury after reperfusion, as demonstrated by reduced AST, ALT, and LDH serum levels and reduced histologic damage in liver tissues. Furthermore, Sevo postconditioning could suppress the apoptosis, inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory response in liver tissue of HIRI mice, as well as improve the survival rate of HIRI mice. Through analyzing GSE72314 from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, it was demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-142 is downregulated by HIRI, which was reversed by Sevo treatment. Further investigation showed that agomiR-142 injection could enhance the hepatoprotective effects of Sevo postconditioning on I/R injury, while antagomiR-142 reversed these effects in mice. Notably, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an important inflammatory factor, was directly targeted by miR-142 in hepatic cells, and we further found that Sevo could inhibit the expression of HMGB1 through up-regulating miR-142 expression in HIRI mice model. In addition, we found that I/R injury induced the activation of TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway was partially suppressed by Sevo postconditioning, and miR-142 mediated the regulatory role of Sevo postconditioning. In line with the in vivo results, Sevo treatment improved the cell viability, inhibited cell apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in vitro HIRI model, while these effects were reversed by antagomiR-142 transfection. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that Sevo postconditioning counteracts the downregulation of miR-142 provoked by I/R, in turn decreased the expression of HMGB1, blocking TLR4/NF-κB pathway activation, thus improving hepatic I/R injury. Our data suggest that Sevo may be a valuable alternative anaesthetic agent in liver transplantation and major liver surgeries.

microRNAs in liver and kidney ischemia reperfusion injury: insight to improve transplantation outcome

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a condition that occurs wherever blood flow and oxygen is reduced or absent, such as trauma, vascular disease, stroke, and solid organ transplantation. This condition can lead to tissue damage, especially during organ transplantation. Under such circumstances, some signaling pathways are activated, leading to up- or down- regulation of several genes such as microRNAs (miRNAs) that might attenuate or ameliorate this status. Therefore, by manipulating miRNAs level, they can be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis of IRI or suggestive to be therapeutic agents in clinical situation in future.

MicroRNA-153-3p increases autophagy in sevoflurane-preconditioned mice to protect against ischaemic/reperfusion injury after knee arthroplasty

The use of tourniquet during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can result in ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Of interest, microRNAs (miRs) are reported to be involved in various kinds of IRI due to their ability in modulating autophagy. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effect of miR‐153‐3p on autophagy in IRI in vitro and in vivo under sevoflurane preconditioning. In the in vitro model, chondrocytes from naive mice were treated with 0% FBS alone or in combination with sevoflurane. Additionally, in vivo assays were conducted in mouse models with tourniquet‐induced IRI after TKA under or without sevoflurane preconditioning. The pathological observation in vivo validated that sevoflurane preconditioning protected the knee joint against IRI. Moreover, miR‐153‐3p expression was diminished in chondrocytes of the in vitro model and in cartilage tissue of the in vivo model, but its expression was appreciably up‐regulated in the presence of sevoflurane preconditioning. Mechanistic study showed that miR‐153‐3p disrupted the interaction between Bcl‐2 and Beclin1 by targeting Bcl‐2, thereby facilitating autophagy in chondrocytes under sevoflurane preconditioning. Furthermore, the experiments in human chondrocytes also verified the protective effects of miR‐153‐3p against IRI were realized through inhibiting Bcl‐2. Collectively, miR‐153‐3p overexpression blocks the interaction between Bcl‐2 and Beclin1 via down‐regulation of Bcl‐2 to promote autophagy of chondrocytes, thus protecting knee joint against IRI after TKA under sevoflurane preconditioning.

Ultraviolet A irradiation induces senescence in human dermal fibroblasts by down-regulating DNMT1 via ZEB1

In this study, we report the role of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced senescence in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We show that DNMT1 expression was significantly reduced during UVA-induced senescence, and this senescence could be alleviated or aggravated by the up- or down-regulation of DNMT1, respectively. Expression of the transcription factor zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1(ZEB1) also decreased after UVA irradiation, following a UVA-induced increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). We show that ZEB1 binds to the DMNT1 promoter and regulates its transcription, which, in turn, affects cellular senescence. These changes in DMNT1 and ZEB1 expression following UVA exposure were confirmed in matched skin specimens that had or had not been sun-exposed. On analyzing the promoter methylation of 24 senescence associated genes in these matched skin specimens, we discovered that p53 promoter methylation was significantly reduced in sun-exposed skin. In vitro experiments confirmed that UVA irradiation reduced p53 promoter methylation, and DNMT1 up-regulation could reverse this effect. Collectively, down-regulation of ZEB1 caused by UVA induced ROS could transcriptionally inhibit DNMT1, leading to low methylation level of senescence related proteins p53 and increase its expression, eventually result in cellar senescence.

Role of microRNA-145 in protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice by regulating expression of GZMK with the treatment of sevoflurane

This study aims to investigate the role of microRNA-145 (miR-145) in protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice by regulating expression of granzyme K (GZMK) with the treatment of sevoflurane. The mice model of myocardial I/R injury was established by left coronary artery ligation. The expression of miR-145 and GZMK in myocardial tissues of mice was detected by Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The changes of the cardiac function and hemodynamics, pathological changes of myocardial tissues, the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes, myocardial infarction area, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were observed. The expression of the apoptosis-related protein cleaved-caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 was detected by western blot analysis. The levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase in myocardial tissues were detected by spectrophotometric colorimetry. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the serum of mice were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of oxidative stress and the expression of inflammatory factors increased in mice with myocardial I/R injury. Sevoflurane postconditioning could reduce myocardial I/R injury in mice. Sevoflurane postconditioning may protect myocardial I/R injury through miR-145-regulation of GZMK in mice. Inhibition of miR-145 expression could reduce the protective effect of sevoflurane posttreatment on myocardial I/R injury in mice. Low expression of GZMK could attenuate the inhibitory effect of miR-145 on myocardial I/R injury after sevoflurane treatment in mice. Our study suggests that sevoflurane postconditioning may protect against myocardial I/R injury by upregulating miR-145 expression and downregulating GZMK expression.

Sevoflurane alleviates LPS‑induced acute lung injury via the microRNA‑27a‑3p/TLR4/MyD88/NF‑κB signaling pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical syndrome that is associated with a high morbidity and mortality in patients. Sevoflurane has a lung protective effect in ALI as it reportedly has anti‑inflammatory and apoptotic‑regulating activity. However, the mechanism is still not entirely understood. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of sevoflurane on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced ALI in mice and the possible mechanisms involved. The results revealed that sevoflurane treatment improved LPS‑induced lung injury, as evidenced by the reduction in mortality, lung permeability, lung wet/dry ratio and lung histopathological changes in mice. Total cell counts and the production of pro‑inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin (IL)‑1β and IL‑6] in bronchoalveolar fluid were also decreased following treatment with sevoflurane. Additionally, LPS‑triggered apoptosis in lung tissues, which was eliminated by sevoflurane. Furthermore, a miRCURY™ LNA array was employed to screen for differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs/miRNAs). Among these miRNAs, 6 were differentially expressed and were involved in the inflammatory response, but only miR‑27a‑3p (miR‑27a) was regulated by sevoflurane. Subsequently, the present study investigated whether sevoflurane exerts its function through the modulation of miR‑27a. The results demonstrated that the overexpression of miR‑27a via an injection with agomiR‑27a produced similar protections as sevoflurane, while the inhibition of miR‑27a suppressed the lung protective effects of sevoflurane in ALI mice. In addition, the present study identified that miR‑27a inhibited Toll‑like receptor 4 (TLR4) by binding to its 3'‑untranslated region. Western blot analysis demonstrated that sevoflurane may ameliorate the inflammatory response by blocking the miR‑27a/TLR4/MyD88/NF‑κB signaling pathway. The present results indicate that sevoflurane may be a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of patients with ALI.

Effects of Sevoflurane Pretreatment on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through the Akt/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Signaling Pathway

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sevoflurane (SEV) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and its mechanism.

Material/Methods

Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham group (n=20), I/R group (n=20) and I/R+SEV group (n=20). The I/R model was established by ligating and recanalizing the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test and echocardiography (ECG) were used for analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was applied to detect the morphological changes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was conducted to detect the apoptosis levels. The expression level of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) was measured. Finally, the effect of SEV on the protein kinase B (Akt)/hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway was detected via western blotting.

Results

SEV could significantly improve I/R-induced cardiac insufficiency, inhibit cardiac infarction, and as well as reduce the infarction area from 53.21±2.11% to 32.33±3.49% (P<0.05). Compared with rats in I/R group, the cardiac myofilament was better in alignment, degradation and necrosis were milder, and cell edema was notably reduced in the I/R+SEV group. Thus, SEV could significantly reverse the decreased expression of SOD2 caused by I/R and reduce oxidative stress in the heart (P<0.05). According to the western blotting results, SEV was capable of obviously activating the expressions of phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), HIF-1α, and VEGF.

Conclusions

SEV can significantly improve myocardial injury caused by I/R in rats, and its mechanism might be related to the activation of the Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

Sevoflurane Preconditioning plus Postconditioning Decreases Inflammatory Response with Hemodynamic Recovery in Experimental Liver Ischemia Reperfusion

Objective

The inhalation anesthetic sevoflurane has presented numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory properties and protective effects against tissue ischemic injury. This study investigated the metabolic, hemodynamic, and inflammatory effects of sevoflurane pre- and postconditioning for short periods in the rescue of liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury using a rat model.

Materials and Methods

Twenty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sham group, control ischemia group (partial warm liver ischemia for 45 min followed by 4 h of reperfusion), SPC group (administration of sevoflurane 2.5% for 15 min with 5 min of washout before liver IR), and SPPoC group (administration of sevoflurane 2.5% for 15 min before ischemia and 20 min during reperfusion).

Results

All animals showed a decrease in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and portal vein blood flow during ischemia. After 4 h of reperfusion, only the SPPoC group had MAP recovery. In both the SPC and SPPoC groups, there was a decrease in the ALT level and an increase in the bicarbonate and potassium serum levels. Only the SPPoC group showed an increase in the arterial blood ionized calcium level and a decrease in the IL-6 level after liver reperfusion. Therefore, this study demonstrated that sevoflurane preconditioning reduces hepatocellular injury and acid-base imbalance in liver ischemia. Furthermore, sevoflurane postconditioning promoted systemic hemodynamic recovery with a decrease in inflammatory response.

Sevoflurane exerts protective effects on liver ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating NFKB3 expression via miR-9-5p

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is a critical contraindication of hepatobiliary surgery and results in severe liver damage. It is imperative to identify underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. In the current study, a rat model of liver IR was established to explore the mechanisms of sevoflurane during surgical intervention on IR. The detection of cytokines was performed using ELISA and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. The target protein of microRNA (miR)-9-5p was identified by in vitro luciferase reporter assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin-V/propidium iodide and TUNEL staining assays. The results demonstrated that sevoflurane exerted protective effect against liver IR. Sevoflurane administration ameliorated a cytokine storm by decreasing serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1 and −6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and improved liver function was determined. IR-induced damage was mediated by an increase in transcription factor p65 expression and activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, which were suppressed by sevoflurane treatment. In situ analysis predicted that NFKB3, encoding for p65, may be targeted by miR-9-5p and the hypothesis was verified by in vitro reporter assays using wild type and mutant sequences of the NFKB3 3′-untranslated region. Furthermore, pretreatment of hepatic tissue with a miR-9-5p mimic inhibited IR-associated injury as suggested by the decrease in the Suzuki score and decreased serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6. The results indicated that sevoflurane protected the liver from IR injury by increasing miR-9-5p expression and miR-9-5p may be a potential treatment target in IR.

Loss of the candidate tumor suppressor ZEB1 (TCF8, ZFHX1A) in Sézary syndrome

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a group of incurable extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas that develop from the skin-homing CD4⁺ T cell. Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are the most common histological subtypes. Although next-generation sequencing data provided significant advances in the comprehension of the genetic basis of this lymphoma, there is not uniform consensus on the identity and prevalence of putative driver genes for this heterogeneous group of tumors. Additional studies may increase the knowledge about the complex genetic etiology characterizing this lymphoma. We used SNP6 arrays and GISTIC algorithm to prioritize a list of focal somatic copy-number alterations in a dataset of multiple sequential samples from 21 Sézary syndrome patients. Our results confirmed a prevalence of significant focal deletions over amplifications: single well-known tumor suppressors, such as TP53, PTEN, and RB1, are targeted by these aberrations. In our cohort, ZEB1 (TCF8, ZFHX1A) spans a deletion having the highest level of significance. In a larger group of 43 patients, we found that ZEB1 is affected by deletions and somatic inactivating mutations in 46.5% of cases; also, we found potentially relevant ZEB1 germline variants. The survival analysis shows a worse clinical course for patients with ZEB1 biallelic inactivation. Multiple abnormal expression signatures were found associated with ZEB1 depletion in Sézary patients we verified that ZEB1 exerts a role in oxidative response of Sézary cells. Our data confirm the importance of deletions in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The characterization of ZEB1 abnormalities in Sézary syndrome fulfils the criteria of a canonical tumor suppressor gene. Although additional confirmations are needed, our findings suggest, for the first time, that ZEB1 germline variants might contribute to the risk of developing this disease. Also, we provide evidence that ZEB1 activity in Sézary cells, influencing the reactive oxygen species production, affects cell viability and apoptosis.

Downregulation of the long noncoding RNA MBNL1-AS1 protects sevoflurane-pretreated mice against ischemia-reperfusion injury by targeting KCNMA1

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the most common and cost-effective treatment for older adults with long-standing osteoarthritis. During TKA, muscle cells suffer from prolonged oxygen deficiency, which leads to altered cell metabolism that reduces the energy demand and maintains cell homeostasis before blood flow is restored. This study focused on the role of the lncRNA muscleblind-like 1 antisense RNA 1 (MBNL1-AS1) in protecting sevoflurane-pretreated mice against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury after TKA, as well as the elucidation of the potential associated mechanism. Identification of differentially expressed lncRNAs was performed using the microarray dataset GSE21164, which was extracted from the GEO database. Target genes of the lncRNA were determined using Multi-Experiment Matrix (MEM), a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and KEGG enrichment analyses. The results showed that MBNL1-AS1 was overexpressed in skeletal muscle cells in mice, while KCNMA1, which was enriched in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, was negatively regulated by MBNL1-AS1. Furthermore, I/R mice displayed serious inflammatory reactions. Down-regulation of MBNL1-AS1 increased the expression of KCNMA1, PKGII, VASP, VEGF, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, Cyclin D3, and Cdc 42 but decreased the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP. Furthermore, upon MBNL1-AS1 upregulation, the rate of cell apoptosis increased while the rate of cell proliferation decreased. Our data suggested that down-regulated lncRNA MBNL1-AS1 might promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells by upregulating KCNMA1 expression via activation of the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, thus protecting sevoflurane-pretreated mice against I/R injury after TKA.

A potential therapeutic target identified by researchers in China could help limit damage to tissues following osteoarthritic knee surgery. A total knee arthroplasty can alleviate symptoms of end-stage osteoarthritis, but the surgery requires use of a tourniquet. This temporarily cuts blood supply to tissues and can trigger severe ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, tissue damage caused by blood flow returning after oxygen deficiency. Shao-Nan Yu and co-workers at the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, demonstrated that lowering expression of a particular RNA molecule following surgery could limit I/R damage. They found that the molecule was over-expressed in mice during I/R injury. This overexpression limited activation of a signalling pathway and an associated protein vital to the chemical balance of cell membranes and healthy muscle cell contraction.

Sevoflurane‑induced neurotoxicity is driven by OXR1 post‑transcriptional downregulation involving hsa‑miR‑302e

Sevoflurane is a common anesthetic agent used in surgical settings and previous studies have indicated that it exerts a neurotoxic effect. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this side effect is unknown. In addition, the human microRNA‑302 (hsa‑miR‑302) family members have been reported to be involved in neuronal cell development and biology. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential implication of hsa‑miR‑302e in the sevoflurane‑induced cytotoxicity on human hippocampal cells (HN‑h). HN‑h cells were transfected with hsa‑miR‑302e mimic, hsa‑miR‑302e inhibitor or negative controls and subsequently exposed to different concentrations of sevoflurane. An MTT assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of sevoflurane on HN‑h cells. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase release, reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and intracellular calcium (Ca2+) were additionally detected. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were conducted to determine mRNA and protein expression, respectively. A luciferase assay was performed for validating the targeting of OXR1 by hsa‑miR‑302e. The results indicated that sevoflurane induced a decrease in cell viability, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species production, lactate dehydrogenase release, intracellular Ca2+ production, calcium/calmodulin‑dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation and apoptosis. In addition, treatment with sevoflurane induced the expression of hsa‑miR‑302e while the expression of its target, oxidation resistance gene 1 (OXR1), was significantly downregulated. Inhibition of hsa‑miR‑302e expression protected neuronal cells from sevoflurane cytotoxicity. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that OXR1 was a direct target of hsa‑miR‑302e. Furthermore, the overexpression of OXR1 abolished the effect of sevoflurane on neuronal cells. The results of the present study indicated that sevoflurane exerts its neurotoxic effect by regulating the hsa‑miR‑302e/OXR1 axis. Therefore, the manipulation of the hsa‑miR‑302e/OXR1 pathway will be useful for preventing sevoflurane‑induced neurotoxicity.

Novel Targets for Treating Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Liver

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major complication of hemorrhagic shock, liver transplantation, and other liver surgeries. It is one of the leading causes for post-surgery hepatic dysfunction, always leading to morbidity and mortality. Several strategies, such as low-temperature reperfusion and ischemic preconditioning, are useful for ameliorating liver IRI in animal models. However, these methods are difficult to perform in clinical surgeries. It has been reported that the activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) protects the liver against IRI, but with unidentified direct target gene(s) and unclear mechanism(s). Recently, FAM3A, a direct target gene of PPARγ, had been shown to mediate PPARγ’s protective effects in liver IRI. Moreover, noncoding RNAs, including LncRNAs and miRNAs, had also been reported to play important roles in the process of hepatic IRI. This review briefly discussed the roles and mechanisms of several classes of important molecules, including PPARγ, FAM3A, miRNAs, and LncRNAs, in liver IRI. In particular, oral administration of PPARγ agonists before liver surgery or liver transplantation to activate hepatic FAM3A pathways holds great promise for attenuating human liver IRI.

Comparison of volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning in cardiac and cerebral system: molecular mechanisms and clinical aspects

Volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning (APC) has shown to have cardiac and cerebral protective properties in both pre-clinical models and clinical trials. Interestingly, accumulating evidences demonstrate that, except from some specific characters, the underlying molecular mechanisms of APC-induced protective effects in myocytes and neurons are very similar; they share several major intracellular signaling pathways, including mediating mitochondrial function, release of inflammatory cytokines and cell apoptosis. Among all the experimental results, cortical spreading depolarization is a relative newly discovered cellular mechanism of APC, which, however, just exists in central nervous system. Applying volatile anesthetic preconditioning to clinical practice seems to be a promising cardio-and neuroprotective strategy. In this review, we also summarized and discussed the results of recent clinical research of APC. Despite all the positive experimental evidences, large-scale, long-term, more precisely controlled clinical trials focusing on the perioperative use of volatile anesthetics for organ protection are still needed.

Paclitaxel alleviated liver injury of septic mice by alleviating inflammatory response via microRNA-27a/TAB3/NF-κB signaling pathway

Excessive inflammatory response and apoptosis play an important role in the sepsis-induced liver injury. Paclitaxel, a diterpene alkaloid of Taxus brevifolia, is widely used as an anti-tumor drug and shows protective effects on acute lung and kidney injury. However, whether it has a protective effect against sepsis-induced liver injury has not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of paclitaxel in septic liver injury in mice and associated molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that paclitaxel treatment improved LPS-induced liver injury, as evidenced by the reduced aminotransferase activity, histological scores and apoptosis in the liver tissues. This was accompanied by the alleviating of inflammation and oxidative stress, such as decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-6) interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in serum and liver tissues. Subsequent microarray and qRT-PCR analysis further showed that miR-27a was significantly decreased in mice with sepsis, which was recovered by paclitaxel pretreatment. Antagomir-miR-27a suppressed the therapeutic effects of paclitaxel in mice liver injury model via promoting inflammatory response. Of note, TAB3, which participated in the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, was identified as a direct target of miR-27 by luciferase reporter gene assays. Then, we revealed a reverse relationship between miR-27a expression levels and TAB3 mRNA levels in liver tissues from septic mice. Furthermore, paclitaxel treatment significantly decreased the expression of NF-κB p65, but increased inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB-α (IκBα) protein levels in septic mice, suggesting the inactivation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Notably, the inhibitory effects of paclitaxel on NF-κB signaling pathway were reversed by antagomir-miR-27a. Our data indicated that paclitaxel significantly attenuated septic induced liver injury through reducing inflammatory response via miR-27a/TAB3/NF-κB signaling pathway.

MiR-29a Suppresses Spermatogenic Cell Apoptosis in Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Targeting TRPV4 Channels

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as gene expression regulators in the progression of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Accumulating evidences have indicated miR-29a play roles in myocardial and cerebral IRI. However, the role of miR-29a in testicular IRI has not been elucidated.

Methods: Changes in expression of miR-29a and Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) in animal samples and GC-1 spermatogenic cells were examined. The effects of miR-29a on spermatogenic cell apoptosis in testicular IRI were analyzed both in vitro and in vivo.

Results: The expression of MiR-29a was negatively correlated with the expression of TRPV4 and significantly downregulated in animal samples and GC-1 cells as testicular IRI progressed. Further studies revealed TRPV4 as a downstream target of miR-29a. Inhibition of miR-29a expression increased the expression of TRPV4 and promoted spermatogenic cell apoptosis, whereas overexpression of miR-29a downregulated TRPV4 expression and suppressed spermatogenic cell apoptosis caused by testicular IRI in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that miR-29a suppresses apoptosis induced by testicular IRI by directly targeting TRPV4.

Downregulation of miR-200c protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis by targeting GATA-4

Hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis plays an important role in the development of ischemic heart disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are emerging as critical regulators of hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. miR-200c is an miRNA that has been reported to be related to apoptosis in various pathological processes; however, its role in hypoxia‑induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential role and underlying mechanism of miR-200c in regulating hypoxia‑induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We found that miR-200c was significantly upregulated by hypoxia in cardiomyocytes, as detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The lactate dehydrogenase, MTT, Annexin V/propidium iodide apoptosis and caspase-3 activity assays showed that downregulation of miR-200c markedly improved cell survival and suppressed the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in response to hypoxia. Bioinformatics analysis and the dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-200c directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of GATA-4, an important transcription factor for cardiomyocyte survival. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis showed that suppression of miR-200c significantly increased GATA-4 expression. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-200c upregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2. However, the protective effects against hypoxia induced by the downregulation of miR‑200c were significantly abolished by GATA-4 knockdown. Taken together, our results suggest that downregulation of miR-200c protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis by targeting GATA-4, providing a potential therapeutic molecular target for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.