MicroRNA-194 overexpression protects against hypoxia/reperfusion-induced HK-2 cell injury through direct targeting Rheb

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, a major cause of renal failure, always leads to acute kidney injury and kidney fibrosis. MicroRNAs (miRs) have been reported to be associated with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. miR-194 was downregulated following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, the function and mechanism of miR-194 in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury have not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we constructed renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model in vitro through treatment of human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells HK-2 by hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R). We observed that miR-194 was decreased in H/R-induced HK-2 cells. miR-194 mimic increased H/R-induced HK-2 cell survival, whereas miR-194 inhibitor further strengthened H/R- inhibited HK-2 cell survival. Also, we observed that miR-194 overexpression suppressed oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde, glutathione, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha; however, miR-194 inhibitor showed the reverse effects. Results from dual-luciferase analysis confirmed that Ras homology enriched in brain (Rheb) was a direct target of miR-194. Finally, we corroborated that miR-194 affected cell growth, oxidative stress, and inflammation through targeting Rheb in H/R-induced HK-2 cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that miR-194 protect against H/R-induced injury in HK-2 cells through direct targeting Rheb.