Knockdown of LOXL2 suppresses cuproptosis induced by H2O2 to inhibited the procession of ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to elaborate the mechanism of cuproptosis induced by H2O2 in ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

Bioinformatics based on GSE107499, GSE87466, and GSE92415 datasets was performed to screen hub genes related to cuproptosis. In vitro, cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), flow cytometry were applied for detecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mitochondrial function was observed using transmission electron microscope, the related indexes of which including reactive oxygen species, glutathione and malondialdehyde were examined using the matched kit. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to assess the function of crucial cuproptosis-related genes and the expression of key signaling pathways in UC. Additionally, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and salvage assays were employed to further elucidate functional associations and mechanistic links. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model was applied for confirming the role of key gene in UC in vivo.

RESULTS

LOXL2 was screened as hub gene and involved in MAPK signaling pathway, which was highly expressed in UC. Cuproptosis was happened in UC induced in H2O2. Functionally, knockdown of LOXL2 improve the cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis, cuproptosis and oxidative stress induced by H2O2 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Meanwhile, LOXL2 knockdown suppressed MAPK signaling activation in UC (p < 0.01). The vivo experiments confirmed that knockdown of LOXL2 inhibited the procession of UC induced by DSS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study elucidated that knockdown of LOXL2 inhibited the development of UC by regulating cuproptosis via MAPK signaling pathway.