Inhibition of miR-450b-5p ameliorates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury via targeting CRYAB

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an unavoidable course in liver transplantation, during which the immune response of inflammation plays a leading part. MicroRNA-450b-5p (miR-450b-5p), which has been reported to participate in several inflammatory diseases, was investigated in this study. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential function of miR-450b-5p toward remission of hepatic IRI and elucidate the specific mechanism. Herein we found that expression of miR-450b-5p, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6 was stimulated in hepatic IRI. Inhibition of miR-450b-5p could remarkably alleviate mouse hepatic IRI and improve liver function measured by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We further assessed protein expression undergoing Western blot and immunofluorescence, and discovered that miR-450b-5p suppressed alpha B-crystallin (CRYAB), thus restraining the inhibitory κB kinase (IKK) β-mediated canonical nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, instead of the noncanonical path guided by IKKα in hepatic IRI. In addition, we demonstrated CRYAB as an activator of M2 polarization through protein kinase B (Akt) 1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), thus resulting in relief of liver IRI. Combination treatment containing both paths revealed a better antidamage efficacy than adjusting either path alone, suggesting that the joint therapy might be a promising solution in hepatic IRI.