Ibudilast Attenuates Folic Acid-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Blocking Pyroptosis Through TLR4-Mediated NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Cell death induced by acute renal injury: a perspective on the contributions of accidental and programmed cell death

The involvement of cell death in acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to multiple factors including energy depletion, electrolyte imbalance, reactive oxygen species, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of several cell death pathway components. Since our review in 2003, discussing the relative contributions of apoptosis and necrosis, several other forms of cell death have been identified and are shown to contribute to AKI. Currently, these various forms of cell death can be fundamentally divided into accidental cell death and regulated or programmed cell death based on functional aspects. Several death initiator and effector molecules switch molecules that may act as signaling components triggering either death or protective mechanisms or alternate cell death pathways have been identified as part of the machinery. Intriguingly, several of these cell death pathways share components and signaling pathways suggesting complementary or compensatory functions. Thus, defining the cross talk between distinct cell death pathways and identifying the unique molecular effectors for each type of cell death may be required to develop novel strategies to prevent cell death. Furthermore, depending on the multiple forms of cell death simultaneously induced in different AKI settings, strategies for combination therapies that block multiple cell death pathways need to be developed to completely prevent injury, cell death, and renal function. This review highlights the various cell death pathways, cross talk, and interactions between different cell death modalities in AKI.

Mechanosensing by Piezo1 and its implications in the kidney

Piezo1 is an essential mechanosensitive transduction ion channel in mammals. Its unique structure makes it capable of converting mechanical cues into electrical and biological signals, modulating biological and (patho)physiological processes in a wide variety of cells. There is increasing evidence demonstrating that the piezo1 channel plays a vital role in renal physiology and disease conditions. This review summarizes the current evidence on the structure and properties of Piezo1, gating modulation, and pharmacological characteristics, with special focus on the distribution and (patho)physiological significance of Piezo1 in the kidney, which may provide insights into potential treatment targets for renal diseases involving this ion channel.

Microglia in neuroimmunopharmacology and drug addiction

Drug addiction is a chronic and debilitating disease that is considered a global health problem. Various cell types in the brain are involved in the progression of drug addiction. Recently, the xenobiotic hypothesis has been proposed, which frames substances of abuse as exogenous molecules that are responded to by the immune system as foreign "invaders", thus triggering protective inflammatory responses. An emerging body of literature reveals that microglia, the primary resident immune cells in the brain, play an important role in the progression of addiction. Repeated cycles of drug administration cause a progressive, persistent induction of neuroinflammation by releasing microglial proinflammatory cytokines and their metabolic products. This contributes to drug addiction via modulation of neuronal function. In this review, we focus on the role of microglia in the etiology of drug addiction. Then, we discuss the dynamic states of microglia and the correlative and causal evidence linking microglia to drug addiction. Finally, possible mechanisms of how microglia sense drug-related stimuli and modulate the addiction state and how microglia-targeted anti-inflammation therapies affect addiction are reviewed. Understanding the role of microglia in drug addiction may help develop new treatment strategies to fight this devastating societal challenge.

Pyroptosis: The Determinator of Cell Death and Fate in Acute Kidney Injury

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is kidney damage that leads to a rapid decline in function. AKI primarily occurs when the tubular epithelium is damaged, causing swelling, loss of brush margin, and eventual apoptosis. Research has shown that tubular epithelial cell damage in AKI is linked to cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and regulation of cell death.

Summary

Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death triggered by inflammation, is believed to play a role in the pathophysiology of AKI. Cumulative evidence has shown that pyroptosis is the main cause of tubular cell death in AKI. Thus, targeted intervention of pyroptosis may be a promising therapeutic approach for AKI. This review delves deep into the cutting-edge research surrounding pyroptosis in the context of AKI, shedding light on its intricate mechanisms and potential implications for clinical practice. Additionally, we explore the exciting realm of potential preclinical treatment options for AKI, aiming to pave the way for future therapeutic advancements.

Key Messages

Pyroptosis, a highly regulated form of cell death, plays a crucial role in determining the fate of cells during the development of AKI. This intricate process involves the activation of inflammasomes, which are multi-protein complexes that initiate pyroptotic cell death. By understanding the mechanisms underlying pyroptosis, researchers aim to gain insights into the pathogenesis of AKI and potentially identify new therapeutic targets for this condition.

Hederasaponin C inhibits LPS-induced acute kidney injury in mice by targeting TLR4 and regulating the PIP2/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition associated with increased incidence and mortality rates. Hederasaponin C (HSC) is one of the main active components of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel. HSC possesses various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity. However, the protective effect of HSC against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI in mice remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of HSC against LPS-induced renal inflammation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Herein, using MTT and LDH assays to assess both cell viability and LDH activity; using dual staining techniques to identify different cell death patterns; conducting immunoblotting, QRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence analyses to evaluate levels of protein and mRNA expression; employing immunoblotting, molecular docking, SPR experiments, and CETSA to investigate the interaction between HSC and TLR4; and studying the anti-inflammatory effects of HSC in the LPS-induced AKI. The results indicate that HSC inhibits the expression of TLR4 and the activation of NF-κB and PIP2 signaling pathways, while simultaneously suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In animal models, HSC ameliorated LPS-induced AKI and diminished inflammatory response and the level of renal injury markers. These findings suggest that HSC has potential as a therapeutic agent to mitigate sepsis-related AKI.

Platelet-derived microparticles stimulated by anti-β2GPI/β2GPI complexes induce pyroptosis of endothelial cells in antiphospholipid syndrome

Platelet microparticles (PMPs) are vesicles that are released by platelets into the extracellular space and play a role in antiphospholipid antibody syndromes. PMPs have recently been recognized as a new and viable cell. There is growing evidence that the anti-β₂ glycoprotein (GPI)/β₂GPI complex is associated with aberrant activation of PMPs. Although studies suggest that aberrant activation of PMPs may lead to inflammatory necrosis of endothelial cells, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We found that although the difference in the number of PMPs was not statistically significant, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) within PMPs was increased during stimulation of anti-β₂GPI/β₂GPI complexes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that anti-β₂GPI/β₂GPI complex-induced PMPs effectively stimulated endothelial cell pyroptosis via the NLRP3/nuclear factor (NF)-κB/gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling pathway as well as the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Additionally, inhibition of NLRP3 expression in PMPs effectively reduced the inflammatory response and pyroptosis in endothelial cells. Our data suggest that PMPs aberrantly activated by anti-β₂GPI/β₂GPI complexes play a vital role in endothelial cell pyroptosis, and these studies provide major insights into the mechanisms of thrombosis during the treatment of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Toll-like receptor 4 promotes the inflammatory response in septic acute kidney injury by promoting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation

Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) contributes to the mortality and morbidity of sepsis patients. Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) has prominent roles in septic AKI. This study investigated the functions of TLR4 in septic AKI. A septic AKI mouse model was established by cecal ligation and puncture surgery. Mouse kidney function and kidney tissue lesion were examined using corresponding kits and H&E staining. The in vitro cell model of septic AKI was established by lipopolysaccharide induction. Cell viability, inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-18) levels, pyroptotic cell number changes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, myeloperoxidase (MOP) concentration, and levels of pyroptosis-associated protein and MyD88, TRIF and p38 MAPK phosphorylation were determined by MTT, ELISA, FAM-FLICA Caspase-1 Detection kit, other corresponding kits, and Western blot. TLR4 was highly expressed in septic AKI mouse kidney tissues and human septic AKI cells. TLR4 knockdown alleviated kidney injury, increased cell viability, and reduced LDH activity and MPO concentration. TLR4 knockdown reduced cell pyroptosis by repressing p38 MAPK phosphorylation through MyD88/TRIF, suppressed pro-inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-18) levels, promoted anti-inflammatory factor (IL-4) level, and reduced inflammatory response, thus playing a protective role in septic AKI. Briefly, TLR4 promoted the inflammatory response in septic AKI by promoting p38 MAPK phosphorylation through MyD88/TRIF.

NAC Pre-Administration Prevents Cardiac Mitochondrial Bioenergetics, Dynamics, Biogenesis, and Redox Alteration in Folic Acid-AKI-Induced Cardio-Renal Syndrome Type 3

The incidence of kidney disease is increasing worldwide. Acute kidney injury (AKI) can strongly favor cardio-renal syndrome (CRS) type 3 development. However, the mechanism involved in CRS development is not entirely understood. In this sense, mitochondrial impairment in both organs has become a central axis in CRS physiopathology. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with cardiac mitochondrial impairment and its role in CRS development in the folic acid-induced AKI (FA-AKI) model. Our results showed that 48 h after FA-AKI, the administration of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a mitochondrial glutathione regulator, prevented the early increase in inflammatory and cell death markers and oxidative stress in the heart. This was associated with the ability of NAC to protect heart mitochondrial bioenergetics, principally oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and membrane potential, through complex I activity and the preservation of glutathione balance, thus preventing mitochondrial dynamics shifting to fission and the decreases in mitochondrial biogenesis and mass. Our data show, for the first time, that mitochondrial bioenergetics impairment plays a critical role in the mechanism that leads to heart damage. Furthermore, NAC heart mitochondrial preservation during an AKI event can be a valuable strategy to prevent CRS type 3 development.

Microglia NLRP3 Inflammasome and Neuroimmune Signaling in Substance Use Disorders

During the last decade, substance use disorders (SUDs) have been increasingly recognized as neuroinflammation-related brain diseases. Various types of abused drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, opiate-like drugs, marijuana, etc.) can modulate the activation status of microglia and neuroinflammation levels which are involved in the pathogenesis of SUDs. Several neuroimmune signaling pathways, including TLR/NF-кB, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria dysfunction, as well as autophagy defection, etc., have been implicated in promoting SUDs. Recently, inflammasome-mediated signaling has been identified as playing critical roles in the microglia activation induced by abused drugs. Among the family of inflammasomes, NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin-domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) serves the primary research target due to its abundant expression in microglia. NLRP3 has the capability of integrating multiple external and internal inputs and coordinately determining the intensity of microglia activation under various pathological conditions. Here, we summarize the effects of abused drugs on NLRP3 inflammasomes, as well as others, if any. The research on this topic is still at an infant stage; however, the readily available findings suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome could be a common downstream effector stimulated by various types of abused drugs and play critical roles in determining abused-drug-mediated biological effects through enhancing glia-neuron communications. NLRP3 inflammasome might serve as a novel target for ameliorating the development of SUDs.

A pyroptosis-related signature predicts prognosis and indicates immune microenvironment infiltration in glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma, the most common malignant brain tumor, leads to high recurrence rates and disabilities in patients. Pyroptosis is an inflammasomes-induced programmed cell death in response to infection or chemotherapy. However, the role of pyroptosis in glioma has not yet been elucidated.

METHODS

RNA-seq data and clinical information of 660 gliomas and 847 samples were downloaded from the TCGA and CGGA, respectively. Then, data of 104 normal brain tissues was retrieved from the GTEx for differential expression analysis. Twelve pairs of peritumoral tissue and glioma samples were used for validation. Gene alteration status of differentially expressed pyroptosis-related regulators in gliomas was detected in cBioPortal algorithm. Consensus clustering was employed to classify gliomas based on differentially expressed pyroptosis-related regulators. Subsequently, a PS-signature was constructed using LASSO-congressional analysis for clinical application. The immune infiltration of glioma microenvironment (TME) was explored using ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and the other immune signatures.

RESULTS

cBioPortal algorithm revealed alteration of these regulators was correlated to better prognosis of gliomas. Then, our study showed that pyroptosis-related regulators can be used to sort out patients into two clusters with distinct prognostic outcome and immune status. Moreover, a PS-signature for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients was developed based on the identified subtypes. The high PS-score group showed more abundant inflammatory cell infiltration and stronger immune response, but with poorer prognosis of gliomas.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study provide a therapeutic basis for future research on pyroptosis and unravel the relationship between pyroptosis and glioma prognosis. The risk signature can be utilized as a prognostic biomarker for glioma.

Conciliatory Anti-Allergic Decoction Attenuates Pyroptosis in RSV-Infected Asthmatic Mice and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced 16HBE Cells by Inhibiting TLR3/NLRP3/NF-κB/IRF3 Signaling Pathway

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can deteriorate asthma by inducing persistent airway inflammation. Increasing evidence elucidated that pyroptosis plays a pivotal role in asthma. Conciliatory anti-allergic decoction (CAD) exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma; however, the effects and mechanisms of CAD in RSV-infected asthmatic mice have not yet been elucidated. The RSV-infected asthmatic mice model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced 16HBE cell pyroptosis model were established, respectively. Pulmonary function, ELISA, and histopathologic analysis were performed to assess the airway inflammation and remodeling in mice with CAD treatment. Furthermore, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was conducted to identify the chemical compounds of high-dose CAD (30 g/kg). Cell viability and apoptosis of 16HBE cells were assessed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Finally, the expression levels of apoptosis-, pyroptosis-, and TLR3/NLRP3/NF-κB/IRF3 signaling-related genes were measured with qRT-PCR or western blotting, respectively. Pulmonary function tests showed that CAD significantly ameliorated respiratory dysfunction, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation cell recruitment in BALF, pulmonary inflammation, collagen deposition, and cell death in lung tissues. CAD significantly decreased the content of TNF-α, IL-13, IL-4, IL-1β and IL-5 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IL-17, IL-6, and OVA-specific IgE in serum and increased serum IFN-γ in asthma mice. The results of UPLC-Q-TOF/MS showed that high-dose CAD had 88 kinds of chemical components. In vitro, CAD-contained serum significantly suppressed LPS-induced 16HBE cell apoptosis. Additionally, CAD and CAD-contained serum attenuated the up-regulated expressions of Bax, Cleaved caspase-3, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR3, p-P65, p-IκBα, and IRF3 but increased Bcl-1 and GSDMD levels in the asthma mice and LPS-induced 16HBE cells, respectively. These results illustrated that CAD may have a potential role in improving airway inflammation and pyroptosis through inhibition of the TLR3/NLRP3/NF-κB/IRF3 signaling pathway.

Identification of cross-talk pathways and ferroptosis-related genes in periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus by bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

Purpose

There is a bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to further explore the pathogenesis of this comorbidity, screen out ferroptosis-related genes involved in the pathological process, and predict potential drug targets to develop new therapeutic strategies.

Methods

Common cross-talk genes were identified from periodontitis datasets (GSE16134, GSE10334 and GSE106090) and T2DM databases (DisGeNET and GeneCard). Then, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, PPI network analysis and hub gene identification were performed. The association between ferroptosis and periodontitis with T2DM was investigated by Pearson correlation analysis. Core ferroptosis-related cross-talk genes were identified and verified by qRT-PCR. Potential drugs targeting these core genes were predicted via DGIDB.

Results

In total, 67 cross-talk genes and two main signalling pathways (immuno-inflammatory pathway and AGE-RAGE signalling pathway) were identified. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that ferroptosis served as a crucial target in the pathological mechanism and treatment of periodontitis with T2DM. IL-1β, IL-6, NFE2L2 and ALOX5 were identified as core ferroptosis-related genes and the qRT-PCR detection results were statistically different. In total, 13 potential drugs were screened out, among which, Echinacea and Ibudilast should be developed first.

Conclusions

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the common pathogenesis of periodontitis and T2DM and provides new insights into the role of ferroptosis in this comorbidity. In addition, two drugs with potential clinical application value were identified. The potential utility of these drugs requires further experimental investigation.

Inhibition of KIF23 Alleviates IPAH by Targeting Pyroptosis and Proliferation of PASMCs

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a progressive vascular disease with high mortality and heritability. Pyroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death, and it is closely associated with IPAH. However, the roles of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in IPAH are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified KIF23 as the most relevant gene for IPAH and pyroptosis, and its expression was significantly increased in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of IPAH. Besides, the pyroptosis level of PASMCs was also considerably upregulated in IPAH. Knockdown of KIF23 in PASMCs could significantly suppress the PASMCs’ pyroptosis and proliferation and then alleviate the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular resistance in IPAH. KIF23 regulated the expression of Caspase3, NLRP3, and HMGB1, and they were all involved in the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways, indicating that PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways might participate in regulating PASMCs pyroptosis by KIF23. In conclusion, our study suggests that KIF23 may be a new therapeutic target for IPAH, which can alleviate the symptoms of IPAH by inhibiting the pyroptosis and proliferation of PASMCs.

Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Parkinson's Disease and Therapeutic Considerations

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, with two main pathological features: misfolded α-synuclein protein accumulation and neurodegeneration. Inflammation has recently been identified as a contributor to a cascade of events that may aggravate PD pathology. Inflammasomes, a group of intracellular protein complexes, play an important role in innate immune responses to various diseases, including infection. In PD research, accumulating evidence suggests that α-synuclein aggregations may activate inflammasomes, particularly the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-leucine-rich repeat-pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) type, which exacerbates inflammation in the central nervous system by secreting proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β. Afterward, activated NLRP3 triggers local microglia and astrocytes to release additional IL-1β. In turn, the activated inflammatory process may contribute to additional α-synuclein aggregation and cell loss. This review summarizes current research evidence on how the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to PD pathogenesis, as well as potential therapeutic strategies targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome in PD.

Folic acid-induced animal model of kidney disease

The kidneys are a vital organ that is vulnerable to both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) which can be caused by numerous risk factors such as ischemia, sepsis, drug toxicity and drug overdose, exposure to heavy metals, and diabetes. In spite of the advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of AKI and CKD as well AKI transition to CKD, there is still no available therapeutics that can be used to combat kidney disease effectively, highlighting an urgent need to further study the pathological mechanisms underlying AKI, CKD, and AKI progression to CKD. In this regard, animal models of kidney disease are indispensable. This article reviews a widely used animal model of kidney disease, which is induced by folic acid (FA). While a low dose of FA is nutritionally beneficial, a high dose of FA is very toxic to the kidneys. Following a brief description of the procedure for disease induction by FA, major mechanisms of FA-induced kidney injury are then reviewed, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities such as impaired bioenergetics and mitophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and increased expression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Finally, application of this FA-induced kidney disease model as a platform for testing the efficacy of a variety of therapeutic approaches is also discussed. Given that this animal model is simple to create and is reproducible, it should remain useful for both studying the pathological mechanisms of kidney disease and identifying therapeutic targets to fight kidney disease.

The Role of Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) Mediated Inflammation in Pancreatic Cancer Pathophysiology

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, characterized by its aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Despite significant improvements in PC treatment and management, the complexity of the molecular pathways underlying its development has severely limited the available therapeutic opportunities. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role in inflammation and immune response, as they are involved in pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Activation of TLRs initiates a signaling cascade, which in turn, leads to the transcription of several genes involved in inflammation and anti-microbial defense. TLRs are also deregulated in several cancers and can be used as prognostic markers and potential targets for cancer-targeted therapy. In this review we discuss the current knowledge about the role of TLRs in PC progression, focusing on the available TLRs-targeting compounds and their possible use in PC therapy.

Macrophage-biomimetic porous Se@SiO2 nanocomposites for dual modal immunotherapy against inflammatory osteolysis

Background

Inflammatory osteolysis, a major complication of total joint replacement surgery, can cause prosthesis failure and necessitate revision surgery. Macrophages are key effector immune cells in inflammatory responses, but excessive M1-polarization of dysfunctional macrophages leads to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and severe loss of bone tissue. Here, we report the development of macrophage-biomimetic porous SiO₂-coated ultrasmall Se particles (porous Se@SiO₂ nanospheres) to manage inflammatory osteolysis.

Results

Macrophage membrane-coated porous Se@SiO₂ nanospheres(M-Se@SiO₂) attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory osteolysis via a dual-immunomodulatory effect. As macrophage membrane decoys, these nanoparticles reduced endotoxin levels and neutralized proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, the release of Se could induce macrophage polarization toward the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype. These effects were mediated via the inhibition of p65, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Additionally, the immune environment created by M-Se@SiO₂ reduced the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation caused by proinflammation cytokines, as confirmed through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that M-Se@SiO₂ have an immunomodulatory role in LPS-induced inflammation and bone remodeling, which demonstrates that M-Se@SiO₂ are a promising engineered nanoplatform for the treatment of osteolysis occurring after arthroplasty.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01128-4.

miR-302a-3p targets FMR1 to regulate pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation injury

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? How does miR-302a-3p play a role in hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells? What is the main finding and its importance? Hypoxia-reoxygenation treatment upregulated the expression of miR-302a-3p in HK-2 cells, and then inhibited the transcription of FMRP translational regulator 1 (FMR1), so as to promote the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and aggravate the pyroptosis of HK-2 cells. miR-302a-3p was used as a molecular target in this study, which provides a new theoretical basis for the treatment of renal failure.

ABSTRACT

Hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) induction can affect miRNA expression and then control NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. This study investigated the mechanism of miR-302a-3p in H/R-induced renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) pyroptosis. Human HK-2 RTECs were induced by H/R. Lactate dehydrogenase content, cell activity and pyroptosis, and levels of NLRP3, GSDMD-N, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde were detected to verify the effect of H/R on HK-2 cells. The NLRP3 inflammasome action was evaluated after H/R-induced HK-2 cells were treated with BAY11-7082, an inflammasome inhibitor. After inhibiting miR-302a-3p expression, the changes of pyroptosis were observed. The binding relation between miR-302a-3p and FMRP translational regulator 1 (FMR1) was verified. A function-rescue experiment verified the role of FMR1 in the regulation of pyroptosis. H/R-induced HK-2 cells showed significant pyroptosis injury, and the NLRP3 inflammasome was activated. After inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome, H/R-induced apoptosis was inhibited. After H/R treatment, miR-302a-3p in HK-2 cells was increased, and miR-302a-3p downregulation limited H/R-induced NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. FMR1 is the target of miR-302a-3p. Inhibition of FMR1 alleviated the inhibition of H/R-induced HK-2 cell pyroptosis by miR-302a-3p inhibitor. Collectively, inhibiting miR-302a-3p can weaken its targeted inhibition on FMR1, thereby inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and reducing caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis in HK-2 cells.