MicroRNA-21-Regulated Activation of the Akt Pathway Participates in the Protective Effects of H2S against Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Abstract

Maintaining a certain level of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is essential for limiting injury to the liver. Exogenous H₂S exerts protective effects against this injury, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Liver injury was induced in Wistar rats undergoing hepatic I/R for 30 min, followed by a 3-h reperfusion. Administration of GYY4137 (a slow-releasing H₂S donor) significantly attenuated the severity of liver injury and was reflected by reduced inflammatory cytokine production and cell apoptosis, the levels of which were elevated by I/R, while DL-propargylglycine (PAG, an inhibitor of cystathionine γ-lyase [CSE]) aggravated liver injury. Delivery of GYY4137 significantly elevated the plasma levels of H₂S and upregulated the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21), leading to the activation of the Akt pathway, in rat livers subjected to I/R. To further investigate the protective mechanisms of H₂S during liver I/R injury, we established a cell model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) by incubating Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells under hypoxia for 4 h followed by normoxia for 10 h. The regulatory effect of miR-21 on the Akt pathway by downregulating phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was validated by luciferase assays. Incubation of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), an H₂S donor, increased the expression of miR-21, attenuated the reduced cell viability and the increased apoptosis by H/R, in BRL cells. Anti-miR-21 abolished the protective effects of NaHS by inactivating the Akt pathway. In conclusion, the present results indicate the activation of the Akt pathway regulated by miR-21 participates in the protective effects of H₂S against I/R-induced liver injury.

Keywords: Akt pathway; hydrogen sulfide; liver ischemia–reperfusion injury; microRNA-21; phosphatase and tensin homolog.