USF1-mediated transcription of PARP1 contributes to sevoflurane-induced pyroptosis in perioperative neurocognitive disorders.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (POCD) are a class of common complications of central nervous system after general anesthesia and surgery. Sevoflurane (SEV) is a widely used inhalation anesthetic in clinical practice, but the mechanism of SEV-induced neuronal damage has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of SEV-induced neuronal pyroptosis involving upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). Single-cell RNA sequencing screening on GSE267933 dataset was performed. POCD animal model was established using C57BL/6J mice, and open field test and Y maze test were conducted to assess cognitive function. Cell model was constructed using human cortical neuronal cell line (CP-H120) and mouse hippocampal neuron cells (HT22). Western blot was employed for protein detection. Cell viability was examined using cell counting kit-8. Pyroptosis was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lactate dehydrogenase release assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining. The binding between USF1 and PARP1 promoter was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, DNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Single-cell sequencing analysis on GSE267933 dataset identified that PARP1 was highly expressed in hippocampal neurons after SEV exposure (P < 0.05). PARP1 knockdown improved cognitive dysfunction and pyroptosis in SEV-exposed POCD mice (P < 0.05). PARP1 downregulation inhibited SEV-induced pyroptosis in human neuronal cells (P < 0.05). USF1 served as a transcription factor to promote PARP1 expression (P < 0.05). Silencing USF1 suppressed SEV-induced pyroptosis in human neuronal cells by downregulating PARP1 (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that USF1-mediated upregulation of PARP1 promoted SEV-induced neuronal pyroptosis, suggesting that USF1/PARP1 axis may function as a key regulator in SEV-triggered neuronal damage in POCD.