Effects and Mechanism of lncRNA CRNDE on Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of lncRNA CRNDE on sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in the human kidney 2 cell line and explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS: HK-2 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides to induce injuries. The expression of CRNDE and miR-146a in HK-2 cells were altered by a transient transfection assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by a flow cytometry assay, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β were assessed by ELISA. Furthermore, western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related proteins. And a luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify if miR-146a was the target of CRNDE. RESULTS: LPS treatment increased CRNDE expression in HK-2 cells. CRNDE overexpression enhanced cell injuries in HK-2 cells significantly increasing inflammatory cytokine levels, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β, and cell apoptosis. In addition, CRNDE overexpression further activated the TLR4/NF-κB pathways in HK-2 cells. Inversely, opposite results were observed in the miR-146a mimic treatment group, and the miR-146a inhibitor could reverse the protein expression changes of TLR4/NF-κB in the si-CRNDE and LPS treatment group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that CRNDE overexpression could activate the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway by regulating miR-146a, which accelerated LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis in HK-2 cells.