miR-195-5p alleviates acute kidney injury through repression of inflammation and oxidative stress by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A

Protective effect and mechanism of Xiaoyu Xiezhuo decoction on ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury based on gut-kidney crosstalk

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Xiaoyu Xiezhuo decoction (XXD) on ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury (IRI-AKI) using network pharmacology methods and gut microbiota analysis. A total of 1778 AKI-related targets were obtained, including 140 targets possibly regulated by AKI in XXD, indicating that the core targets were mainly enriched in inflammatory-related pathways, such as the IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. The unilateral IRI-AKI animal model was established and randomly divided into four groups: the sham group, the AKI group, the sham + XXD group, and the AKI + XXD group. Compared with the rats in the AKI group, XXD improved not only renal function, urinary enzymes, and biomarkers of renal damage such as Kim-1, cystatin C, and serum inflammatory factors such as IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL 1-β, but also intestinal metabolites including lipopolysaccharides, d-lactic acid, indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, and short-chain fatty acids. XXD ameliorated renal and colonic pathological injury as well as inflammation and chemokine gene abundance, such as IL-17, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, ICAM-1, and MCP-1, in AKI rats via the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, reducing the AKI score, renal pathological damage, and improving the intestinal mucosa's inflammatory infiltration. It also repaired markers of the mucosal barrier, including claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1. Compared with the rats in the AKI group, the α diversity was significantly increased, and the Chao1 index was significantly enhanced after XXD treatment in both the sham group and the AKI group. The treatment group significantly reversed this change in microbiota.

MicroRNA-195-5p Attenuates Intracerebral-Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Damage by Inhibiting MMP-9/MMP-2 Expression

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains a devastating disease with high mortality, and there is a lack of effective strategies to improve functional outcomes. The primary injury of ICH is mechanical damage to brain tissue caused by the hematoma. Secondary injury, resulting from inflammation, red cell lysis, and thrombin production, presents a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Inflammation, crucial in secondary brain injury, involves both cellular and molecular components. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are vital regulators of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Their deregulation may lead to diseases, and modulating miRNA expression has shown therapeutic potential, especially in cancer. Recent studies have implicated miRNAs in the pathogenesis of stroke, affecting endothelial dysfunction, neurovascular integrity, edema, apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Preclinical and human studies support the use of miRNA-directed gene modulation as a therapeutic strategy for ICH. Our study focused on the effects of miR-195 in ICH models. Neurological tests, including the corner turn and grip tests, indicated that miR-195 treatment led to improvements in motor function impairments caused by ICH. Furthermore, miR-195-5p significantly reduced brain edema in the ipsilateral hemisphere and restored blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, as shown by reduced Evans blue dye extravasation. These results suggest miR-195-5p's potential in attenuating ICH-induced apoptosis, possibly related to its influence on MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression, enzymes associated with secondary brain injury. The anti-apoptotic effects of miR-195-5p, demonstrated through TUNEL assays, further underscore its therapeutic promise in addressing the secondary brain injury and apoptosis associated with ICH. In conclusion, miR-195-5p demonstrates a significant neuroprotective effect against ICH-induced neural damage, brain edema, and BBB disruption, primarily through the downregulation of MMP-9 and MMP-2. Our findings indicate that miR-195-5p holds therapeutic potential in managing cerebral cell death following ICH.

Therapeutic effects of the alkaline extract of leaves of Sasa sp. and elucidation of its mechanism in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI), a common complication in hospitalized patients, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, there are currently no approved or effective therapeutics for AKI. AKI is primarily caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, with oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species (ROS) being a major contributor. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa sp. (SE) using mouse renal I/R injury and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) models in NRK-52E cells. Renal function parameters were measured, and histopathological evaluations were performed to assess the efficacy of SE. In addition, to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of SE on renal I/R injury, its effects on malondialdehyde (MDA) of oxidative stress and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. SE (0.03, 0.3, and 3 g/kg) improved renal function in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, SE ameliorated tubular injury and, reduced IL-6, IL-1β and MDA. Also, SE ameliorated cell death, ROS production, and inflammatory cytokine production in H/R-exposed NRK-52E cells. SE showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in the AKI. These results indicate the potential of SE as a medicinal compound for the prevention and treatment of AKI.

Gut Microbiota and Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury

OBJECTIVE

 To characterize the relationship between gut microbiota and neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers based on the gut-kidney axis.

STUDY DESIGN

 The Pubmed database was primarily searched to include relevant literature on gut microbiota and neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers, which was subsequently organized and analyzed and a manuscript was written.

RESULTS

 Gut microbiota was associated with neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers. These biomarkers included TIMP-2, IGFBP-7, VEGF, calbindin, GST, B2MG, ghrelin, and clusterin.

CONCLUSION

 The gut microbiota is strongly associated with neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers, and controlling the gut microbiota may be a potential target for ameliorating neonatal acute kidney injury.

KEY POINTS

· There is a bidirectional association between gut microbiota and AKI.. · Gut microbiota is closely associated with biomarkers of nAKI.. · Manipulation of gut microbiota may improve nAKI..

miR-195b is required for proper cellular homeostasis in the elderly

Over the last decade we have witnessed an increasing number of studies revealing the functional role of non-coding RNAs in a multitude of biological processes, including cellular homeostasis, proliferation and differentiation. Impaired expression of non-coding RNAs can cause distinct pathological conditions, including herein those affecting the gastrointestinal and cardiorespiratory systems, respectively. miR-15/miR-16/miR-195 family members have been broadly implicated in multiple biological processes, including regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis and metabolism within distinct tissues, such as heart, liver and lungs. While the functional contribution of miR-195a has been reported in multiple biological contexts, the role of miR-195b remains unexplored. In this study we dissected the functional role of miR-195b by generating CRISPR-Cas9 gene edited miR-195b deficient mice. Our results demonstrate that miR-195b is dispensable for embryonic development. miR-195b-/- mice are fertile and displayed no gross anatomical and/or morphological defects. Mechanistically, cell cycle regulation, metabolism and oxidative stress markers are distinctly impaired in the heart, liver and lungs of aged mice, a condition that is not overtly observed at midlife. The lack of overt functional disarray during embryonic development and early adulthood might be due to temporal and tissue-specific compensatory mechanisms driven by selective upregulation miR-15/miR-16/miR-195 family members. Overall, our data demonstrated that miR-195b is dispensable for embryonic development and adulthood but is required for cellular homeostasis in the elderly.

MicroRNA-195-5p Attenuates Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress via OTX1/MAPK Signaling Pathway

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy and can induce perinatal death of human infants. MicroRNA (miR)-195-5p was validated to display low expression in severe preeclampsia placentas, but the role of miR-195-5p in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) has not been investigated. The study emphasized on the functions and mechanism of miR-195-5p in PIH. A reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model was established to mimic PIH in vivo. Adenovirus (Ad)-miR-195-5p agomir and/or Ad-OTX1 were further injected into some model rats. RT-qPCR was conducted to assess the expression of miR-195-5p and orthodenticle homeobox 1 (OTX1) in rat placental tissues, the isolated aortic endothelial cells (AECs), and in serum samples of PIH patients. Western blot analysis was implemented to measure the protein levels of OTX1, VEGFA, and key factors involved in the MAPK signaling pathway. The concentrations of oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lipid hydroperoxide) in AECs and placental tissues of RUPP rats were measured by corresponding kits. The binding relation between miR-195-5p and OTX1 was verified using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to evaluate the pathological features of rat placental tissues. MiR-195-5p was downregulated, while OTX1 was upregulated in rat placental tissues and human serum samples of PIH patients. MiR-195-5p could target OTX1 and inversely regulate OTX1 expression in AECs and rat placental tissues. In addition, miR-195-5p can negatively regulate VEGFA level. Furthermore, miR-195-5p inactivates oxidative stress and the MAPK signaling by downregulating OTX1 in AECs. In vivo experiments revealed that OTX1 overexpression reversed the protective effect of miR-195-5p overexpression on placental damage and oxidative stress. MiR-195-5p alleviates PIH by inhibiting oxidative stress via targeting OTX1 and inactivating MAPK signaling.

Molecular Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress in Acute Kidney Injury: Targeting the Loci by Resveratrol

Reactive oxygen species are a group of cellular molecules that stand as double-edged swords, their good and bad being discriminated by a precise balance. Several metabolic reactions in the biological system generate these molecules that interact with cellular atoms to regulate functions ranging from cell homeostasis to cell death. A prooxidative state of the cell concomitant with decreased clearance of such molecules leads to oxidative stress, which contributes as a prime pathophysiological mechanism in various diseases including renal disorders, such as acute kidney injury. However, targeting the generation of oxidative stress in renal disorders by an antioxidant, resveratrol, is gaining considerable therapeutic importance and is known to improve the condition in preclinical studies. This review aims to discuss molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress in acute kidney injury and its amelioration by resveratrol. The major sources of data were PubMed and Google Scholar, with studies from the last five years primarily included, with significant earlier data also considered. Mitochondrial dysfunction, various enzymatic reactions, and protein misfolding are the major sources of reactive oxygen species in acute kidney injury, and interrupting these loci of generation or intersection with other cellular components by resveratrol can mitigate the severity of the condition.

Increased Expression of lncRNA AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1 in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Pilot Study

COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, poses significant threats to the respiratory system and other vital organs. Long non-coding RNAs have emerged as influential epigenetic regulators and promising biomarkers in respiratory ailments. The objective of this study was to identify candidate lncRNAs in SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals compared to SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals and investigate their potential association with ARDS-CoV-2 (acute respiratory distress syndrome). Employing qRT-PCR, we meticulously examined the expression profiles of a panel comprising 84 inflammation-related lncRNAs in individuals presenting upper respiratory infection symptoms, categorizing them into those testing negative or positive for SARS-CoV-2. Notably, first-phase PSD individuals exhibited significantly elevated levels of AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1. In addition, we measured the expression of two lncRNAs, AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1, in patients with ARDS unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 (n = 5) and patients with ARDS induced by SARS-CoV-2 (ARDS-CoV-2, n = 10), and interestingly, expression was also higher among patients with ARDS. Intriguingly, our interaction pathway analysis unveiled potential interactions between lncRNA AC000120.7, various microRNAs, and genes associated with inflammation. This study found higher expression levels of lncRNAs AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1 in the context of infection-positive COVID-19, particularly within the complex landscape of ARDS.

MicroRNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome where a rapid decrease in kidney function and/or urine output is observed, which may result in the imbalance of water, electrolytes and acid base. It is associated with poor prognosis and prolonged hospitalization. Therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment to avoid the severe AKI stage are important. While several biomarkers, such as urinary L-FABP and NGAL, can be clinically useful, there is still no gold standard for the early detection of AKI and there are limited therapeutic options against AKI. miRNAs are non-coding and single-stranded RNAs that silence their target genes in the post-transcriptional process and are involved in a wide range of biological processes. Recent accumulated evidence has revealed that miRNAs may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AKI. In this review article, we summarize the current knowledge about miRNAs as promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for AKI, as well as the challenges in their clinical use.

Targeted VEGFA therapy in regulating early acute kidney injury and late fibrosis

Damage to peritubular capillaries is a key process that contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) plays a critical role in maintaining the renal microvasculature. However, the physiological role of VEGFA in various AKI durations remains unclear. A severe unilateral ischemia‒reperfusion injury model was established to provide an overview of VEGFA expression and the peritubular microvascular density from acute to chronic injury in mouse kidneys. Therapeutic strategies involving early VEGFA supplementation protecting against acute injury and late anti-VEGFA treatment for fibrosis alleviation were analyzed. A proteomic analysis was conducted to determine the potential mechanism of renal fibrosis alleviation by anti-VEGFA. The results showed that two peaks of extraglomerular VEGFA expression were observed during AKI progression: one occurred at the early phase of AKI, and the other occurred during the transition to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Capillary rarefaction progressed despite the high expression of VEGFA at the CKD stage, and VEGFA was associated with interstitial fibrosis. Early VEGFA supplementation protected against renal injury by preserving microvessel structures and counteracting secondary tubular hypoxic insults, whereas late anti-VEGFA treatment attenuated renal fibrosis progression. The proteomic analysis highlighted an array of biological processes related to fibrosis alleviation by anti-VEGFA, which included regulation of supramolecular fiber organization, cell-matrix adhesion, fibroblast migration, and vasculogenesis. These findings establish the landscape of VEGFA expression and its dual roles during AKI progression, which provides the possibility for the orderly regulation of VEGFA to alleviate early acute injury and late fibrosis.

Plasma miR-195-5p predicts the severity of Covid-19 in hospitalized patients

Predicting the clinical course of Covid-19 is a challenging task, given the multi-systemic character of the disease and the paucity of minimally invasive biomarkers of disease severity. Here, we evaluated the early (first two days post-admission) level of circulating hsa-miR-195-5p (miR-195, a known responder to viral infections and SARS-CoV-2 interactor) in Covid-19 patients and assessed its potential as a biomarker of disease severity. We show that plasma miR-195 correlates with several clinical and paraclinical parameters, and is an excellent discriminator between the severe and mild forms of the disease. Our Gene Ontology analysis of miR-195 targets differentially expressed in Covid-19 indicates a strong impact on cardiac mitochondria homeostasis, suggesting a possible role in long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) syndromes.

MiR-195-5p is involved in testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury by directly targeting PELP1 and regulating spermatogonia pyroptosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), which is characterized by testicular torsion and causes permanent impairment of spermatogenic function, is linked with pyroptosis. Studies have implicated endogenous small non-coding RNAs in IRI development across various organs. In this study, we elucidated the mechanism underlying miR-195-5p's action in regulating pyroptosis in testicular IRI.

METHODS

We established two models, namely a testicular torsion/ detorsion (T/D) mouse model and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated germ cell model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to evaluate the testicular ischemic injury. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and reactive oxygen species production in testis tissues were detected using Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assay kits and immunohistochemistry. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated using CCK-8 and LDH assays, whereas expression patterns of inflammatory proteins were measured using ELISA, immunofluorescence, and western blot assays. miR-195-5p interaction with PELP1 was validated by conducting the luciferase enzyme reporter test.

RESULTS

Pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly upregulated following testicular IRI. A similar pattern was observed in the OGD/R model. miR-195-5p was significantly downregulated in mouse IRI testis tissue and OGD/R-treated GC-1 cells. Notably, miR-195-5p downregulation promoted whereas its upregulation attenuated pyroptosis in OGD/R-treated GC-1 cells. Furthermore, we found that PELP1 is a miR-195-5p target. miR-195-5p attenuated pyroptosis in GC-1 cells by inhibiting PELP1 expression during OGD/R, and this protective effect was blocked upon miR-195-5p downregulation. Collectively, these results indicated that miR-195-5p inhibits testicular IRI-induced pyroptosis by targeting PELP1, suggesting that it has the potential to serve as a novel target for the future development of therapies for testicular torsion.

Identification and validation of aging-related gene signatures and their immune landscape in diabetic nephropathy

Background

Aging and immune infiltration have essential role in the physiopathological mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but their relationship has not been systematically elucidated. We identified aging-related characteristic genes in DN and explored their immune landscape.

Methods

Four datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened for exploration and validation. Functional and pathway analysis was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Characteristic genes were obtained using a combination of Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm. We evaluated and validated the diagnostic performance of the characteristic genes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the expression pattern of the characteristic genes was evaluated and validated. Single-Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was adopted to assess immune cell infiltration in samples. Based on the TarBase database and the JASPAR repository, potential microRNAs and transcription factors were predicted to further elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the characteristic genes.

Results

A total of 14 differentially expressed genes related to aging were obtained, of which 10 were up-regulated and 4 were down-regulated. Models were constructed by the RF and SVM-RFE algorithms, contracted to three signature genes: EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix (EFEMP1), Growth hormone receptor (GHR), and Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). The three genes showed good efficacy in three tested cohorts and consistent expression patterns in the glomerular test cohorts. Most immune cells were more infiltrated in the DN samples compared to the controls, and there was a negative correlation between the characteristic genes and most immune cell infiltration. 24 microRNAs were involved in the transcriptional regulation of multiple genes simultaneously, and Endothelial transcription factor GATA-2 (GATA2) had a potential regulatory effect on both GHR and VEGFA.

Conclusion

We identified a novel aging-related signature allowing assessment of diagnosis for DN patients, and further can be used to predict immune infiltration sensitivity.

A Novel Approach Based on Gut Microbiota Analysis and Network Pharmacology to Explain the Mechanisms of Action of Cichorium intybus L. Formula in the Improvement of Hyperuricemic Nephropathy in Rats

Background

Cichorium intybus L. formula (CILF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) widely used in the treatment of gout and hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN). The aim of this research was to investigate the potential protective effect of CILF against HN and elucidated the underlying mechanism.

Methods

CILF water extract was administered to an HN rat model established by adenine combined with ethambutol. The levels of uric acid (UA), serum urea nitrogen (UREA), and creatinine (CREA) were detected. Changes in the pathology and histology of the kidney were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The 16S rRNA of the gut microbiota was sequenced. The binding ability of the main ingredients of CILF to key targets was analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking. The expression levels of the related mRNAs and proteins in the kidney were evaluated by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry analysis.

Results

CILF administration significantly alleviated increases in UA, UREA, and CREA, structural damage, and kidney dysfunction. Gut microbiota analysis was applied to explore the pharmacological mechanism of the effects of CILF on bacterial diversity and microbiota structure in HN. CILF decreased the abundance of Bacteroides. In addition, it increased the abundance of Lactobacillaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Bifidobacterium. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis, CILF profoundly influenced the IL17, TNF and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Additionally, CILF inhibited the expression of STAT3, VEGFA and SIRT1 to improve the symptoms of nephropathy. Our research suggested that CILF protects against kidney dysfunction in rats with HN induced by adenine combined with ethambutol.

Conclusion

Our findings on the anti-HN effects of CILF and its mechanism of action, from the viewpoint of systems biology, and elaborated that CILF can alter the diversity and community structure of the gut microbiota in HN, providing new approaches for the prevention and treatment of HN.

Poor expression of miR-195-5p can assist the diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage and predict adverse outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may develop refractory arterial cerebral vasospasm (CVS), which is the leading cause of death in SAH patients. This study explored the clinical diagnostic value of serum miR-195-5p levels in CVS after SAH (SAH + CVS) and its relationship with the prognosis of SAH + CVS.

METHODS

A total of 110 patients with spontaneous SAH were divided into the SAH group (N = 62) and SAH + CVS group (N = 58), with 60 healthy subjects as controls. The clinical data of blood glucose, blood sodium fluctuation, and serum lactic acid were recorded. miR-195-5p serum level was detected by RT-qPCR and its diagnostic value on SAH + CVS was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve. Serum levels of PDGF/IL-6/ET-1 and their correlation with miR-195-5p were analyzed using RT-qPCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Pearson's method. The patient prognosis was evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale. The effect of miR-195-5p levels on adverse prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

miR-195-5p was lowly expressed in the serum of SAH patients and lower in SAH + CVS patients. Serum miR-195-5p level assisted the diagnosis of SAH and SAH + CVS and was negatively correlated with PDGF/IL-6/ET-1 levels and was an independent risk factor together with ET-1 and blood glucose for SAH + CVS. miR-195-5p low expression predicted a higher cumulative incidence of adverse outcomes and was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Poor expression of miR-195-5p can assist the diagnosis of SAH + CVS and predict higher adverse outcomes.

MicroRNAs in kidney injury and disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by degrading or repressing the translation of their target messenger RNAs. As miRNAs are critical regulators of cellular homeostasis, their dysregulation is a crucial component of cell and organ injury. A substantial body of evidence indicates that miRNAs are involved in the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease and allograft damage. Different subsets of miRNAs are dysregulated during AKI, chronic kidney disease and allograft rejection, which could reflect differences in the physiopathology of these conditions. miRNAs that have been investigated in AKI include miR-21, which has an anti-apoptotic role, and miR-214 and miR-668, which regulate mitochondrial dynamics. Various miRNAs are downregulated in diabetic kidney disease, including the miR-30 family and miR-146a, which protect against inflammation and fibrosis. Other miRNAs such as miR-193 and miR-92a induce podocyte dedifferentiation in glomerulonephritis. In transplantation, miRNAs have been implicated in allograft rejection and injury. Further work is needed to identify and validate miRNAs as biomarkers of graft function and of kidney disease development and progression. Use of combinations of miRNAs together with other molecular markers could potentially improve diagnostic or predictive power and facilitate clinical translation. In addition, targeting specific miRNAs at different stages of disease could be a promising therapeutic strategy.

Hypoxic/Ischemic Inflammation, MicroRNAs and δ-Opioid Receptors: Hypoxia/Ischemia-Sensitive Versus-Insensitive Organs

Hypoxia and ischemia cause inflammatory injury and critically participate in the pathogenesis of various diseases in various organs. However, the protective strategies against hypoxic and ischemic insults are very limited in clinical settings up to date. It is of utmost importance to improve our understanding of hypoxic/ischemic (H/I) inflammation and find novel therapies for better prevention/treatment of H/I injury. Recent studies provide strong evidence that the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression and affect H/I inflammation through post-transcriptional mechanisms, are differentially altered in response to H/I stress, while δ-opioid receptors (DOR) play a protective role against H/I insults in different organs, including both H/I-sensitive organs (e.g., brain, kidney, and heart) and H/I-insensitive organs (e.g., liver and muscle). Indeed, many studies have demonstrated the crucial role of the DOR-mediated cyto-protection against H/I injury by several molecular pathways, including NLRP3 inflammasome modulated by miRNAs. In this review, we summarize our recent studies along with those of others worldwide, and compare the effects of DOR on H/I expression of miRNAs in H/I-sensitive and -insensitive organs. The alternation in miRNA expression profiles upon DOR activation and the potential impact on inflammatory injury in different organs under normoxic and hypoxic conditions are discussed at molecular and cellular levels. More in-depth investigations into this field may provide novel clues for new protective strategies against H/I inflammation in different types of organs.

When the Renal (Function) Begins to Fall: A Mini-Review of Acute Kidney Injury Related to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Critically Ill Patients

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent causes of organ failure encountered in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Because of its predisposition to occur in the most critically ill patients, it is not surprising to observe a high frequency of AKI in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, few studies have been carried out to assess the epidemiology of AKI in subgroups of ARDS patients using recommended KDIGO criteria. Moreover, the mechanisms involved in the physio-pathogenesis of AKI are still poorly understood, in particular the impact of mechanical ventilation on the kidneys. We carried out a review of the literature, focusing on the epidemiology and physiopathology of AKI in patients with ARDS admitted to the ICU. We addressed the importance of clinical management, focusing on mechanical ventilation for improving outcomes, on AKI. Finally, we also propose candidate treatment strategies and management perspectives. Our literature search showed that AKI is particularly common in ICU patients with ARDS. In association with the classic risk factors for AKI, such as comorbidities and iatrogeny, changes in mechanical ventilation parameters, which have been exclusively evaluated for their outcomes on respiratory function and death, must be considered carefully in terms of their impact on the short-term renal prognosis.

LncRNA UCA1, miR-26a, and miR-195 in coronary heart disease patients: Correlation with stenosis degree, cholesterol levels, inflammatory cytokines, and cell adhesion molecules

Background

Long noncoding RNA urothelial cancer‐associated 1 (lnc‐UCA1) targets microRNA‐26a (miR‐26a) and microRNA‐195 (miR‐195) to participate in coronary heart disease (CHD) progression via regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell and microvascular endothelial cell viability and mobility. Therefore, this study set out to further explore the relationship between lnc‐UCA1 and miR‐26a and miR‐195, along with their roles in the management of patients with CHD.

Methods

One hundred and thirty‐six CHD patients and 70 age‐/gender‐matched controls were recruited in this case‐control study. Their peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected for lnc‐UCA1, miR‐26a, and miR‐195 measurement. Furthermore, serum samples from CHD patients were obtained for inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules measurement. The Gensini score was used to evaluate the stenosis severity in CHD patients.

Results

Lnc‐UCA1 expression tend to be increased, while miR‐26a and miR‐195 expressions were reduced in patients with CHD compared to that of controls (all p < 0.001). In CHD patients, lnc‐UCA1 was negatively correlated with miR‐26a (p < 0.001) and miR‐195 (p = 0.014). Besides, lnc‐UCA1 was positively correlated with Gensini score (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.019), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.002), and C‐reactive protein (p < 0.001), while miR‐26a (p < 0.001) and miR‐195 (p = 0.002) were negatively correlated with Gensini score. What's more, lnc‐UCA1 was positively correlated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (p = 0.004), interleukin (IL)‐1β (p = 0.041), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) (p = 0.010), and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) (p < 0.001). While miR‐26a was negatively correlated with some of the individual inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules.

Conclusion

Lnc‐UCA1, miR‐26a, and miR‐195 may serve as potential biomarkers for CHD management.

Knockdown of circ-FURIN suppresses the proliferation and induces apoptosis of granular cells in polycystic ovary syndrome via miR-195-5p/BCL2 axis

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease that increases the risk of infertility. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in regulating the biological processes of PCOS. Our study was designed to explore the function of circ-FURIN in PCOS.

Methods

Circ-FURIN expression was detected using RT-qPCR. The protein expression of AVEN, BCL2, XIAP and AREL1 was measured using western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were applied to clarify the interaction between miR-195-5p and circ-FURIN or BCL2. Functionally, cell proliferation was assessed by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

Circ-FURIN was upregulated in PCOS patients and granular cells (GCs). Knockdown of circ-FURIN inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of KGN cells, along with the increased expression of caspase-3 and Bax and the decreased levels of p-PI3K. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated circ-FURIN is associated with apoptotic signaling pathway and cell death. Subsequently, BCL2 expression was elevated in patients with PCOS and positively regulated by circ-FURIN. Furthermore, circ-FURIN was served as a sponge of miR-195-5p to directly target to BCL2. The levels of miR-195-5p were reduced in PCOS and KGN cells. Knockdown of circ-FURIN decreased the expression of BCL2, which was abolished by miR-195-5p inhibitor. At last, rescue experiments revealed that overexpression of BCL2 reversed the effects of circ-FURIN knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis of KGN cells.

Conclusions

Loss of circ-FURIN alleviated the development of PCOS via miR-195-5p/BCL2 axis. Circ-FURIN may be the novel biomarker for PCOS.

miR-195-3p alleviates homocysteine-mediated atherosclerosis by targeting IL-31 through its epigenetics modifications

Atherosclerosis is a serious age-related disease, which has a tremendous impact on health care globally. Macrophage inflammation is crucial for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and microRNAs (miRNAs) recently have emerged as potent modulators of inflammation, while the underlying mechanisms of its involvement in homocysteine (Hcy)-mediated macrophage inflammation of atherosclerosis remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that elevated Hcy inhibits the expression of miR-195-3p, which in turn enhances IL-31 expression and thereby causes the secretion of macrophages pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and accelerate atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we identified that Hcy can induce DNA hypermethylation and H3K9 deacetylation of miR-195-3p promoter due to the increased the binding of DNMT3a and HDAC11 at its promoter. More importantly, Sp1 interacts with DNMT3a suppressed the binding of HDAC11 at miR-195-3p promoter and promoted its transcription. In summary, our results revealed a novel mechanism that transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of miR-195-3p inhibits macrophage inflammation through targeting IL-31, which provides a candidate diagnostic marker and novel therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases induced by Hcy.

Xiaoyu Xiezhuo Drink Protects against Ischemia-Reperfusion Acute Kidney Injury in Aged Mice through Inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 and HIF1 Signaling Pathways

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is responsible for significant mortality among hospitalized patients that is especially troubling aged people. An effective self-made Chinese medicine formula, Xiaoyu Xiezhuo Drink (XXD), displayed therapeutic effects on AKI. However, the compositions and underlying mechanisms of XXD remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with hybrid triple quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) to investigate the chemical components in XXD. Then, the absorbable components of XXD were identified based on the five principles and inputted into the SwissTargetPrediction and STITCH databases to identify the drug targets. AKI-related targets were collected from the GenCLiP 3, GeneCards, and DisGeNET databases. The crossover genes of XXD and AKI were identified for functional enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of crossover genes was constructed, followed by the identification of hub genes. Subsequently, the effects and potential mechanisms of XXD on AKI predicted by the network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses were experimentally validated in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury-induced AKI aged mouse models. A total of 122 components in XXD were obtained; among them, 58 components were found that could be absorbed in the blood. There were 800 potential drug targets predicted from the 58 absorbable components in AKI which shared 36 crossover genes with AKI-related targets. The results of functional enrichment analysis indicated that crossover genes mostly associated with the response to oxidative stress and the HIF1 signaling pathway. In the PPI network analysis, 12 hub genes were identified, including ALB, IL-6, TNF, TP53, VEGFA, PTGS2, TLR4, NOS3, EGFR, PPARG, HIF1A, and HMOX1. In AKI aged mice, XXD prominently alleviated I/R injury-induced renal dysfunction, abnormal renal pathological changes, and cellular senescence, inflammation, and oxidative damage with a reduction in the expression level of the inflammatory mediator, α-SMA, collagen-1, F4/80, TP53, VEGFA, PTGS2, TLR4, NOS3, EGFR, PPARG, HIF1A, ICAM-1, TGF-β1, Smad3, and p-Smad3 and an increase of nephridial tissue p-H3, Ki67, HMOX1, MMP-9, and Smad7 levels. In summary, our findings suggest that XXD has renoprotective effects against AKI in aged mice via inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 and HIF1 signaling pathways.

Propofol attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating the MALAT1/miR-126-5p axis

BACKGROUND

Propofol (PPF) plays a protective role in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in multiple organs, including renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI). The present study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which PPF exerts its protective functions in RIRI.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were employed for the construction of RIRI animal model. PPF pre-treatment was carried out before I/R. An in vitro I/R model was established with HK-2 cells after hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) culture, and PPF was utilized to treat the cells before H/R. A quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was conducted to detect long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and miR-126-5p expression levels. Flow cytometry was adopted to detect the apoptosis of HK-2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis, qPCR, a luciferase reporter gene experiment and a RNA immunoprecipitation experiment were used to determine the regulatory relationship between MALAT1 and miR-126-5p. The expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was examined by western blotting.

RESULTS

MALAT1 expression was augmented and miR-126-5p was decreased in RIRI models. PPF pre-treatment remarkably reduced creatinine and urea nitrogen levels in the serum of BALB/c mice with RIRI, and diminished the apoptosis of HK-2 cells treated with H/R. In addition, PPF pre-treatment markedly restrained the expression of MALAT1 in both in vivo and in vitro models and up-regulated miR-126-5p expression. MALAT1 could adsorb miR-126-5p to repress it and up-regulate VEGFA. MALAT1 overexpression reversed the protective effects of PPF on RIRI.

CONCLUSIONS

PPF protects the kidney against RIRI by inhibiting MALAT1 and up-regulating miR-126-5p expression, as well as indirectly inhibiting the expression of VEGFA.

Circulating microRNA profile in humans and mice with congenital GH deficiency

Reduced inflammation, increased insulin sensitivity, and protection against cancer are shared between humans and mice with GH/IGF1 deficiency. Beyond hormone levels, miRNAs are important regulators of metabolic changes associated with healthy aging. We hypothesized that GH deficiency in humans alters the abundance of circulating miRNAs and that a subset of those miRNAs may overlap with those found in GH-deficient mice. In this study, subjects with untreated congenital isolated GH deficiency (IGHD; n = 23) and control subjects matched by age and sex (n = 23) were recruited and serum was collected for miRNA sequencing. Serum miRNAs from young (6 month) and old (22 month) Ames dwarf (df/df) mice with GH deficiency and their WT littermates (n = 5/age/genotype group) were used for comparison. We observed 14 miRNAs regulated with a genotype by age effect and 19 miRNAs regulated with a genotype effect independent of age in serum of IGHD subjects. These regulated miRNAs are known for targeting pathways associated with longevity such as mTOR, insulin signaling, and FoxO. The aging function was overrepresented in IGHD individuals, mediated by hsa-miR-31, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-30e, hsa-miR-100, hsa-miR-181b-2, hsa-miR-195, and hsa-miR-181b-1, which target the FoxO and mTOR pathways. Intriguingly, miR-181b-5p, miR-361-3p, miR-144-3p, and miR-155-5p were commonly regulated in the serum of humans and GH-deficient mice. In vitro assays confirmed target genes for the main up-regulated miRNAs, suggesting miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals can regulate the expression of age-related genes. These findings indicate that systemic miRNAs regulated in IGHD individuals target pathways involved in aging in both humans and mice.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases and Beyond: From Mechanism to Pharmacotherapies

The endothelium, a cellular monolayer lining the blood vessel wall, plays a critical role in maintaining multiorgan health and homeostasis. Endothelial functions in health include dynamic maintenance of vascular tone, angiogenesis, hemostasis, and the provision of an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic interface. Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium presents with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, heightened oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, leukocyte adhesion and hyperpermeability, and endothelial cell senescence. Recent studies have implicated altered endothelial cell metabolism and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition as new features of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as a hallmark of many diverse human panvascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. Endothelial dysfunction has also been implicated in severe coronavirus disease 2019. Many clinically used pharmacotherapies, ranging from traditional lipid-lowering drugs, antihypertensive drugs, and antidiabetic drugs to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors and interleukin 1β monoclonal antibodies, counter endothelial dysfunction as part of their clinical benefits. The regulation of endothelial dysfunction by noncoding RNAs has provided novel insights into these newly described regulators of endothelial dysfunction, thus yielding potential new therapeutic approaches. Altogether, a better understanding of the versatile (dys)functions of endothelial cells will not only deepen our comprehension of human diseases but also accelerate effective therapeutic drug discovery. In this review, we provide a timely overview of the multiple layers of endothelial function, describe the consequences and mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, and identify pathways to effective targeted therapies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The endothelium was initially considered to be a semipermeable biomechanical barrier and gatekeeper of vascular health. In recent decades, a deepened understanding of the biological functions of the endothelium has led to its recognition as a ubiquitous tissue regulating vascular tone, cell behavior, innate immunity, cell-cell interactions, and cell metabolism in the vessel wall. Endothelial dysfunction is the hallmark of cardiovascular, metabolic, and emerging infectious diseases. Pharmacotherapies targeting endothelial dysfunction have potential for treatment of cardiovascular and many other diseases.

miR-195-5p Regulates the Phenotype Switch of CCSM Cells by Targeting Smad7

INTRODUCTION

Phenotype switch refers to the process in which smooth muscle cells change from contractile type to synthetic type and acquire the ability of proliferation. Phenotypic transformation involves many changes of cell function, such as collagen deposition and fibrosis, which affect the normal erectile function of penis.

AIM

To investigate the role of miR-195-5p in regulating the Phenotype switch of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) cells.

METHODS

A small mother against decapentaplegic 7(Smad7) virus vector and a miR-195-5p mimics or an si-Smad7 viral vector and a miR-195-5p inhibitor were transfected into CCSM cells. The cells were obtained by primary culture of rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments, Western blotting, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, transwell experiments, MTT assays, and flow cytometry were used to detect miR-195-5p, Smad7, phenotype switch markers of CCSM cells and related protein expression, as well as changes in cell morphology, migration, proliferation and apoptosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

To study the regulation of miR-195-5p in CCSM cells by overexpression and silencing strategies.

RESULTS

Overexpressed miR-195-5p promoted the transformation of CCSM cells from a contractile type to a synthetic type. Meanwhile, the migration ability and proliferation ability of CCSM cells increased, and the apoptosis rate decreased. The expression-silencing of miR-195-5p gave rise to the opposite effect. The results of the rescue experiment demonstrated that overexpressed Smad7 rescued the inhibitory of the switch of the CCSM cell phenotype from the contractile type to the synthesis type caused by overexpression of miR-195-5p alone. Moreover, the enhancement effect of the migration ability and proliferation ability of CCSM cells was also eliminated, and the apoptosis rate was increased. Silencing miR-195-5p and Smad7 at the same time resulted in the opposite effect.

CONCLUSION

miR-195-5p may regulate the phenotype switch of CCSM cells by targeting Smad7. Zhang J, Zhang X, Zhang J, et al. miR-195-5p Regulates the Phenotype Switch of CCSM Cells by Targeting Smad7. Sex Med 2021;9:100349.

Effects of circular RNA Ttc3/miR-148a/Rcan2 axis on inflammation and oxidative stress in rats with acute kidney injury induced by sepsis

Aim Increasing evidence demonstrated circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of various diseases, including sepsis-induced AKI. Although CIRC-Ttc3 has been proved to regulate cardiac function after myocardial infarction, its role in sepsis-induced AKI remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The AKI rat model was firstly induced by sepsis through cecal ligation puncture (CLP). Serum levels of creatinine, BUN, NGAL, TNF-α, IL-6, SOD, MDA and IL-1β were measured through appropriate kits. The pathological alteration and renal microvascular permeability in renal tissues were determined by HE staining and Evans Blue assays. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. The expression levels of CIRC-Ttc3, miR-148a, TNF-α, IL-1β and iNOS in rats' renal samples were tested by qRT-PCR or/and western blot. The binding ability between CIRC-Ttc3 and miR-148a was evaluated through luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull-down assays.

KEY FINDINGS

Kidney injury was found in CLP-treated rats. CIRC-Ttc3 expression was down-regulated, and upregulation of CIRC-Ttc3 improved inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in AKI rats. Mechanismly, CIRC-Ttc3 was confirmed to bind to and negatively regulate miR-148a. Further rescue assays revealed that overexpression of miR-148a rescued the improvement of CIRC-Ttc3 on sepsis-induced AKI. Then, it was illustrated that CIRC-Ttc3 regulated Rcan2 expression by binding to miR-148a. Finally, knockdown of Rcan2 reversed the effects of miR-148a inhibition on sepsis-induced AKI.

SIGNIFICANCE

CIRC-Ttc3 relieved inflammation and oxidative stress through regulating the miR-148a/Rcan2 axis in rats with AKI induced by sepsis. Therefore, CIRC-Ttc3 may be a potential therapeutic target for sepsis-induced AKI.

MiR-195-5p Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating the PTEN-AKT Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

MiR-195-5p has been shown to play crucial roles in tumor inhibition, but its biological functions in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury are unclear.

METHODS

To mimic cerebral I/R injury, mice were induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) were treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to mimic I/R injury in vitro. The expression of miR-195-5p and PTEN was detected by qRT-PCR or Western blot. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometer. Cell death was detected using specific lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity kit. Infarct volume in mice brains was evaluated by TTC staining. Histopathological analysis was performed by HE staining and TUNEL staining. The interaction between miR-195-5p and PTEN was determined by TargetScan and luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

MiR-195-5p was significantly downregulated and PTEN was upregulated during cerebral I/R injury both in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of miR-195-5p efficiently enhanced cell viability, while reduced LDH release and apoptotic rate of OGD-treated HBMVECs in vitro. MiR-195-5p could negatively regulate the expression of PTEN by directly binding to its 3'-UTR. Overexpression of PTEN obviously attenuated the protective effect of miR-195-5p mimics on cell viability, LDH release and apoptosis in OGD-treated HBMVECs. Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-195-5p increased the expression levels of p-AKT in OGD-treated HBMVECs, while this effect was reversed by overexpression of PTEN. Moreover, overexpression of miR-195-5p efficiently ameliorated brain injury of mice after MCAO treatment in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of miR-195-5p ameliorated cerebral I/R injury by regulating the PTEN-AKT signaling pathway, providing a potential therapeutic target for cerebral I/R injury.

Recent efforts in drug discovery on vascular inflammation and consequent atherosclerosis

Introduction: Preservation of vascular endothelium integrity and maintenance of its full functionality are fundamental aspects in order to avoid both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases.Areas covered: Although a massive endothelial disruption is a rare condition, caused by acute and uncontrolled inflammatory responses (e.g. the cytokine storm induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection), more frequently the vascular tree is the first target of slowly progressive inflammatory processes which affect the integrity of endothelium and its 'barrier' function, supporting the onset of atherosclerotic plaque and spreading inflammation. This endothelial dysfunction leads to decrease NO biosynthesis, impaired regulation of vascular tone, and increased platelet aggregation. Such chronic subclinic inflammation leads to macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, many efforts should be addressed to find useful approaches to preserve vascular endothelium from inflammation. In this review, the authors have evaluated the most recent strategies to counteract this pathological condition.Expert opinion: The therapeutic and nutraceutical approaches represent useful tools to treat or prevent different phases of vascular inflammation. In particular, the pharmacological approach should be used in advanced phases characterized by clinical signs of vascular disease, whilst the nutraceutical approach may represent a promising preventive strategy to preserve the integrity of the endothelial tissue.

Dexmedetomidine ameliorates renal ischemia reperfusion-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in alveolar macrophages

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (rI/R) is a risk factor for acute lung injury (ALI). Alveolar macrophages (AMs) activation mediated by rI/R-induced ALI is one of the pathogeneses associated with the development of ALI. In rI/R, α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists have been indicated to be effective in decreasing urea nitrogen concentrations. In this study, we explored the underlying pathogenesis of the clinically obtainable α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine (DEX) in protecting against rI/R -mediated AMs activation. We incubated AMs with the serum of sham and rI/R rats in the presence or absence of various concentrations of DEX. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the secretion levels of GSH, LDH, IL-18, IL-1β, and HMGB1 in the culture supernatant. We employed real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of NOX-4 mRNA, and western blotting to observe the protein levels of NOX-4, the NLRP3 inflammasome, AMPK, and eNOS. In addition, we used immunofluorescence to analyze ROS and MMP activity. Incubation of AMs with DEX suppressed rI/R-mediated cellular LDH production and ROS release. DEX also abolished the rI/R-mediated decrease in the activity of GSH and increased the levels of the rI/R-related NADPH oxidase protein NOX-4. Furthermore, DEX reduced the amelioration of the mitochondrial potential induced by rI/R. Our study showed that DEX inhibits rI/R-mediated levels of the NLRP3 inflammasome proteins ASC, NLRP3, HMGB1 and p20, and ameliorates rI/R-mediated AMPK signaling inactivation. Therefore, DEX reduces the levels of two mediators that are activated by the NLRP3 inflammasome: IL-18 and IL-1β. Finally, our study established that DEX mitigates the rI/R-mediated decrease in eNOS, demonstrating its protective functions against AMs activation. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the protective action of DEX in AMs is induced through amelioration of HMGB1-NLRP3 inflammasome-AMPK signaling. Our results suggest that the anesthetic reagent DEX exerts beneficial effects to ameliorate rI/R-induced ALI.