Zn improves sepsis-induced acute kidney injury by upregulating SIRT7-mediated Parkin acetylation.

Zn levels are reported to be correlated with kidney function. We explored the significance of Zn in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (SI-AKI) through the regulation of sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) activity. The sepsis rat model was established by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) and intraperitoneally injected with ZnSO or SIRT7 inhibitor 97491 (SIRT7i), with renal tubular injury assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In vitro, human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were induced with lipopolysaccharide to obtain a renal injury cell model, followed by ZnSO or SIRT7i and autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) treatment. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Parkin acetylation level, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) expression levels were determined. The renal tubule injury, inflammation condition, and pyroptosis-related and autophagy-related protein levels were assessed. The pyroptosis in kidney tissues and autophagosome formation were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Zn alleviated renal injury in CLP rats and inhibited pyroptosis and its related protein levels by inhibiting SIRT7 activity in septic rat renal tissues. In vitro, Zn increased HK-2 cell viability and reduced KIM-1, NGAL, IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3 inflammasome, cleaved caspase-1, gasdermin D-N levels, and pyroptotic cell number. Zn increased autophagosome number and LC3BII/LC3BI ratio and decreased TOM20, TIM23, P62, and mitochondrial ROS levels. Zn increased Parkin acetylation by repressing SIRT7 activity. Inhibiting mitophagy partially averted Zn-inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and apoptosis in HK-2 cells. Zn upregulated Parkin acetylation by repressing SIRT7 activity to promote mitophagy and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, thus improving SI-AKI. Zn upregulated Parkin acetylation by repressing sirtuin 7 activity to promote mitophagy and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, thus improving sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.