Endothelial progenitor cells-secreted extracellular vesicles containing microRNA-93-5p confer protection against sepsis-induced acute kidney injury via the KDM6B/H3K27me3/TNF-α axis

Exp Cell Res. 2020 Oct 15;395(2):112173. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112173. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Abstract

The pivotal pathogenetic role of microRNAs (miRs) in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) has been demonstrated in mounting evidence. The functions of the target cells are regulated through the release of cells-encapsulated extracellular vesicles (Evs) into the extracellular space. The present study aims to elucidate the clinical significance as well as biological function of the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-derived Evs containing miR-93-5p in sepsis-induced AKI. We first established a cellular sepsis-induced AKI mouse model by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and tested ectopic expression and depletion experiments in the model. Evs derived from miR-93-5p inhibitor-transfected EPCs (Evs/miR-93-5p inhibitor) were isolated, and co-cultured with HK2 cells to explore the effects of EPC-derived Evs overexpressing miR-93-5p on LPS-induced HK2 cell injury. The interaction between miR-93-5p and lysine (K)-specific demethylase 6B (KDM6B) was identified using dual-luciferase reporter assay, and ChIP was used to validate the relationship between KDM6B and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Mice were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and then injected with Ev/miR-93-5p inhibitor to explore its functions in vivo. The results found that miR-93-5p and histone H3 Lys27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) were downregulated while KDM6B was upregulated in LPS-treated HK2 cells. EPC-derived Evs alleviated LPS-induced HK2 cell injury, while Ev/miR-93-5p inhibitor potentiated the cell injury in vitro. miR-93-5p was found to directly target KDM6B. Silencing KDM6B induced H3K27me3, inhibiting the activation of TNF-α, thereby weakening LPS-induced HK2 cell injury. EPC-derived Evs containing miR-93-5p attenuated multiple organ injury, vascular leakage, inflammation, and apoptosis in septic mice. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that endothelial protection from EPC-derived Evs carrying miR-93-5p in sepsis-induced AKI, which was mediated by regulation KDM6BH/3K27me3/TNF-α axis.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Endothelial progenitor cells; Extracellular vesicles; H3K27me3; KDM6B; Sepsis; TNF-α; microRNA-93-5p.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / genetics
  • Acute Kidney Injury / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / cytology*
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • Sepsis / complications*
  • Sepsis / genetics
  • Sepsis / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Histones
  • MIRN93 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn93 microRNA, mouse
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Kdm6b protein, mouse