1. Academic Validation
  2. Dexmedetomidine Alleviates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Activating Autophagy Via AMPK/mTOR Pathway

Dexmedetomidine Alleviates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Activating Autophagy Via AMPK/mTOR Pathway

  • Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2023 Jul 1. doi: 10.1007/s10557-023-07483-8.
Qi Yu 1 Simin Zeng 2 Ruilin Hu 2 Muqi Li 2 Qiang Liu 2 Yu Wang 2 Min Dai 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Medicine, Medical Center of Anesthesiology and Pain, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330052, Jiangxi, China.
  • 2 Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1519, Dongyue Avenue, Nanchang, 330052, Jiangxi, China.
  • 3 Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1519, Dongyue Avenue, Nanchang, 330052, Jiangxi, China. dminhappy@163.com.
Abstract

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a critical global health issue with increasing prevalence. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that has previously been shown to play a protective role in AAA. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying its protection effect remain not fully understood.

Methods: A rat AAA model was established via intra-aortic porcine pancreatic Elastase perfusion with or without DEX administration. The abdominal aortic diameters of rats were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin and Elastica van Gieson staining were conducted for histopathological observation. TUNEL and immunofluorescence staining were utilized to detect cell Apoptosis and α-SMA/LC3 expression in the abdominal aortas. Protein levels were determined using western blotting.

Results: DEX administration repressed the dilation of aortas, alleviated pathological damage and cell Apoptosis, and suppressed phenotype switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Moreover, DEX activated Autophagy and regulated the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of the rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) signaling pathway in AAA rats. Administration of the AMPK Inhibitor attenuated the DEX-mediated ameliorative effects on AAA in rats.

Conclusion: DEX ameliorates AAA in rat models by activating Autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Keywords

Aortic dilation; LC3; Signaling transduction; α2-adrenoceptor agonist.

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