ABSTRACT
AIMS: Mitochondrial dynamics in alveolar macrophages (AMs) are associated with sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether changes in mitochondrial dynamics could alter the polarization of AMs in sepsis-induced ALI and to explore the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics by focusing on SIRT3-induced optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) deacetylation. RESULTS: The AMs of sepsis-induced ALI showed imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics and polarization to the M1 macrophage phenotype. In sepsis, SIRT3 overexpression promotes mitochondrial dynamic equilibrium in AMs. However, 3TYP-specific inhibition of SIRT3 increased the mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs and further aggravated sepsis-induced ALI. OPA1 is directly bound to and deacetylated by SIRT3 in AMs. In AMs of sepsis-induced ALI, SIRT3 protein expression was decreased and OPA1 acetylation was increased. OPA1 acetylation at the lysine 792 amino acid residue (OPA1-K792) promotes self-cleavage and is associated with an imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics. However, decreased acetylation of OPA1-K792 reversed the pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs and protected the barrier function of alveolar epithelial cells in sepsis-induced ALI. INNOVATION: Our study revealed for the first time the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and AMs polarization by SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of OPA1 in sepsis-induced ALI, which may serve as an intervention target for precision therapy of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics promote pro-inflammatory polarization of AMs in sepsis-induced ALI, and that deacetylation of OPA1 mediated by SIRT3 improves mitochondrial dynamic equilibrium, thereby ameliorating lung injury.
