The expression of Numb was upregulated in both ischemia-reperfusion- and cisplatin-induced AKI. Depletion of Numb from proximal tubules (PT-Nb-KO) exacerbated AKI shown as more severe renal tubular damage and higher serum creatinine than wild-type mice. Numb depletion alone significantly increased mitochondrial fragmentation without altering mitochondrial mass and function, including adenosine triphosphate production, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption, and reactive oxygen species production. However, mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction were significantly aggravated after cisplatin exposure in PT-Nb-KO mice. Mechanistically, Numb depletion triggered dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) recruitment to mitochondria by increasing the phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 656 residue (human Drp1 ser). Inhibiting the activity of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) by Y-27632 attenuated phosphorylation of Drp1 ser and mitochondrial fragmentation in Numb-deficient cells. Administration of mdivi-1, a pharmacological inhibitor of Drp1, restored mitochondrial morphology, attenuated cisplatin-induced tubular injury, and renal dysfunction in PT-Nb-KO mice. Innovation and Conclusion: Our data suggest that Numb depletion promotes mitochondrial fragmentation by promoting the phosphorylation of Drp1 Ser and thus exacerbates cisplatin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and tubular cell apoptosis. These findings add a novel insight into modulating mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics during AKI. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

Combine use of dexmedetomidine during exposure to isoflurane in utero during middle-pregnancy can attenuate the impairment of spatial learning and memory abilities for the rats in adulthood.