2-DG improves lung ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the protective effect of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) on lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is mediated by inhibiting nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, 2-DG group, lung I/R injury group (I/R group) and 2-DG+I/R group. 2-DG (0.7 g/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 1 h prior to lung ischemia. The tissue structure was measured under light microscope. Lung injury parameters were detected. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lactate were determined by commercially available kits. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-1β and IL-18. Western blot, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure the expression changes of glycolysis and pyroptosis related indicators. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the parameters between the control group and the 2-DG group. Howev