The Prognostic Value of LncRNA NNT‐AS1 in CRRT‐Treated Patients and Its Regulatory Mechanism in Acute Kidney Injury

We investigated the prognostic value of lncRNA NNT-AS1 in patients undergoing CRRT and its regulatory mechanism in acute kidney injury. First, we detected serum levels of NNT-AS1 by RT-qPCR in patients before and after treatment with CRRT. Next, the survival probability between NNT-AS1 levels and prognosis of CRRT-treated patients was explored with Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curve analysis. The potential risk factors were evaluated via Cox regression analysis. Moreover, LPS-induced HK-2 cells were employed to establish an in vitro cellular experimental model. Cell viability and apoptosis rate were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry. The relative mRNA levels of MDA and ROS were detected via RT-qPCR, and the concentration of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins-1β (IL-1β), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) was detected by ELISA assay. Finally, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was utilised to verify the targeted binding of NNT-AS1 to miR-582-5p. Serum NNT-AS1 levels were significantly reduced following CRRT, and patients with high levels of NNT-AS1 had lower survival probability. NNT-AS1 is a potential risk factor for poor outcomes in patients treated with CRRT. In LPS-induced HK-2 cells, NNT-AS1 knockdown increased cell viability and reduced the apoptosis rate. Also, NNT-AS1 knockdown suppressed the expression of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory factors and markers of renal tubular injury. NNT-AS1 targeted miR-582-5p by dual-luciferase reporter assay. LncRNA NNT-AS1 can serve as a marker of poor prognosis for CRRT treatment as well as participate in AKI by targeting miR-582-5p.