CircVMA21-related pathway alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced HK-2 cell injury

Fuzhu Li; Hongyun Fu; Linna Zeng; Pingping Liu

doi:10.1097/SHK.0000000000002364

CircVMA21-related pathway alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced HK-2 cell injury

Shock. 2024 Mar 25. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002364. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Fuzhu Li¹, Hongyun Fu², Linna Zeng³, Pingping Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421000, China.
² The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Docimasiology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421000, China.
³ Department of Endocrinology, The third People's Hospital of Yongzhou City, Yongzhou 425000, China.
⁴ The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Emergency, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, China.

PMID: 38662613
DOI: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002364

Abstract

Background: It is reported that circVMA21 has an inhibition effect on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Therefore, the underlying molecular mechanisms of circVMA21 in AKI are worthy of further investigation.

Material and methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce HK2 cell injury. CircVMA21, miR-337-3p and ZEB2 expression was tested by qRT-PCR. Cell growth was detected by CCK8 assay, EdU assay and flow cytometry. Protein levels were examined by western blot. The levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers were measured to evaluate cell inflammatory response and oxidative stress. RNA relationship as verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RIP assay and RNA pull-down assay.

Results: CircVMA21 had decreased expression in AKI patients. Overexpressed circVMA21 alleviated LPS-induced HK2 cell inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Moreover, circVMA21 sponged miR-337-3p, and miR-337-3p targeted ZEB2. The inhibitory effect of circVMA21 on LPS-induced HK2 cell injury was reversed by miR-337-3p overexpression, and ZEB2 overexpression abolished the promotion effect of miR-337-3p on LPS-induced HK2 cell injury.

Conclusions: CircVMA21 could inhibit LPS-induced HK2 cell injury via miR-337-3p/ZEB2 axis.