Dexmedetomidine Blocks the <scp>ERK</scp> Pathway by Inhibiting <scp>MAP3K8</scp> to Achieve a Protective Effect in Lung Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Lung ischemia/reperfusion injury (LIRI) is a primary contributor to morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) protects the lungs from I/R injury, but the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This paper examined the protective effect of DEX in LIRI and elucidated the potential regulation involved. LIRI was induced in mice, followed by the detection of pulmonary arterial pressure, lung compliance, pathological changes, pulmonary vascular permeability, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Mice were infected with overexpression (OE)-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8 (MAP3K8) adenovirus and treated with DEX. MAP3K8 expression was examined in mouse lung tissue and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). Cells were infected using OE-MAP3K8 lentivirus and treated with DEX, followed by detection of cell viability and apoptosis, VE-cadherin and α-E-catenin, and pro-inflammatory factors. Rescue experiments were performed by MAP3K8 overexpression and combined extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway blocker, PD98059. The results demonstrated that DEX protected mice from LIRI. DEX inhibited MAP3K8 expression. MAP3K8 overexpression increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and activated the ERK pathway. Upregulation of MAP3K8 impaired the protective effect of DEX in vivo and in vitro, which was reversed by the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Overall, DEX achieved its protective effect against LIRI by inhibiting the MAP3K8-ERK axis.