miR-379-5p serves as a biomarker and regulates sepsis-associated acute kidney injury via targeting EDN1

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a serious complication for sepsis patients, and microRNA (miRNA) is involved in its occurrence and development. This study investigated the clinical value of miR-379-5p and its potential mechanism on LPS-induced human proximal tubular epithelial cell lines (HK-2). Serum miR - 379-5p levels were measured in 85 sepsis patients and 74 SA-AKI patients. The clinical significance of miR-379-5p was explored from the perspectives of SA-AKI diagnosis, kidney injury correlation, and 28-day survival assessment. The LPS-induced HK-2 cell model was constructed, and the regulatory effect of miR-379-5p on LPS-induced HK-2 cell viability and inflammatory response was analyzed. The regulatory mechanism was explored, focusing on the involvement of EDN1. Low expression of serum miR-379-5p could distinguish SA-AKI from sepsis patients and was negatively correlated with serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cystatin-C (Cys-C), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell (WBC). Low expression of miR-379-5p was correlated with the 28-day survival rate. LPS could inhibit the expression of miR-379-5p in HK-2 cells, inhibit cell viability, and promote the concentration of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Overexpression of miR-379-5p reversed the effect of LPS on HK-2 cells. EDN1 was a direct target gene of miR-379-5p. Overexpression of EDN1 counteracted the protective effect of miR-379-5p overexpression on HK-2 cells. Downregulated serum miR-379-5p had the potential value in diagnosing SA-AKI and forecasting 28-day patient survival. Overexpression of miR-379-5p protected HK-2 cells from LPS-induced injury by targeting and inhibiting EDN1.