Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on pyroptosis, inflammation, and liver/kidney function in rats with pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10): control group, model group, low-dose dexmedetomidine group, high-dose dexmedetomidine group, low-dose dexmedetomidine + NLRP3 agonist group, and high-dose dexmedetomidine + NLRP3 agonist group. The control group received no treatment, while pulmonary fibrosis models were established in other groups via intratracheal bleomycin instillation. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the protein (NLRP3, N-GSDMD, cleaved caspase-1, Bax, Bad) and mRNA (NLRP3, Bax, Bad) expression levels in lung tissues, respectively. Serum inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α) were measured by ELISA, and liver/kidney function indices were analyzed using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results Compared with the model group, the expression levels of NLRP3, N-GSDMD, cleaved caspase1, Bax, and Bad proteins, NLRP3, Bax, and Bad mRNA in lung tissue, as well as the serum inflammatory indicators IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, were significantly decreased in both the low-dose dexmedetomidine group and the high-dose dexmedetomidine group. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine reduces pulmonary pyroptosis and inflammation while suppressing inflammatory cytokine release in pulmonary fibrosis model rats, without adversely affecting liver or kidney function.
Key words
dexmedetomidine /
pulmonary fibrosis /
pyroptosis /
inflammatory response
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