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

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.