Dopamine D1 receptor agonist A-68930 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protects rats from spinal cord injury-induced acute lung injury

Abstract

Study design: Randomized experimental study.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms of A-68930 in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

Setting: China.

Methods: The influences of A-68930 on the pulmonary edema, histological changes, proinflammatory cytokines levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and NLRP3 inflammasome protein expression were estimated.

Results: SCI significantly promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation, increased proinflammatory cytokine productions and MPO activity, and induced pulmonary edema and tissue damage in the SCI group as compared with the control group. A-68930 administration significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduced inflammatory cytokines levels and MPO activity. Moreover, A-68930 administration attenuated pulmonary edema and histopathology.

Conclusion: Our experimental findings indicated that A-68930 exhibited a protective effect on SCI-induced ALI by the alleviations of inflammatory response with the inhibition NLRP3 inflammasome activation 72 h post injury. The present study indicated that A-68930 could be a potentially efficient therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCI-induced ALI.