*Purpose: To determine whether aquaporins (AQPs) are involved in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) by affecting the pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.

*Methods: Hypoxia reoxygenation (H/R) model was established by using HK-2 cell line; Renal IRI and sham surgery (Sham) models were established by using male C57BL/6 mice. The expression of AQPs and the damage/pyroptosis of HK-2 cells/renal tissues were examined by histological, molecular and biochemical approaches.

*Results: H/R cells were found to have less AQP2 expression (P < 0.01), lower cell viability and higher exposure rate of LDH, Caspase-1 activity and concentration of IL-1β and IL-18 than control (P < 0.01). In immunofluorescent staining, H/R cells showed higher FAM-YVAD-FMK and PI immunofluorescence intensity than control. Renal tissues of IRI group mice were found to have heavier tubules damage, less AQP1-5, 8 and more toll-like receptor 4 mRNAs expression (P < 0.01), less AQP2 protein expression and higher activity of elevated Caspase-1 than sham group (P < 0.01). Higher concentration of Kim-1, NGAL, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected in the serum of IRI group than Sham group (P < 0.01).

*Conclusions: Renal IRI involves increasing of cell pyroptosis and down-regulation of AQPs expression, especially AQP2. AQPs may be involved in renal IRI by affecting the pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells which needs to be verified by further studies including RNA interference.

« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress