Dexmedetomidine suppresses microglial activation in postoperative cognitive dysfunction via the mmu-miRNA-125/TRAF6 signaling axis

Abstract Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is driven in part by microglial activation and the resulting neuroinflammatory response. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs regulate key inflammatory pathways in the central nervous system. In this study, we examined the role of the mmu‑miR‑125a/TRAF6 signaling axis in microglial activation under inflammatory conditions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and surgical trauma and evaluated whether dexmedetomidine (DEX) modulates this pathway to alleviate POCD. Methods Murine microglial cells were treated with LPS to induce activation. Expression levels of mmu‑miR‑125a and TRAF6 were quantified by qRT‑PCR and Western blotting. Bioinformatic prediction of miRNA binding sites was performed, and a luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm direct targeting of TRAF6 by mmu‑miR‑125a. Adult mice underwent standardized surgical trauma to induce POCD. Brain tissues were analyzed for microglial activation markers, cytokine levels, and expression of mmu‑miR‑125a and TRAF6. DEX was administered in both in vitro and in vivo models. The effects on cytokine release, microglial activation, and the mmu‑miR‑125a/TRAF6 axis were assessed. Results Our findings revealed significant alterations in the expression levels of TRAF6 and mmu-miR-125a during LPS-induced microglial activation. Through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation, we identified TRAF6 as a direct target of mmu-miR-125a. The mmu-miR-125a/TRAF6 axis was found to be crucial for regulating microglial activation both in vitro , using an LPS-induced model, and in vivo, using a surgical trauma-induced POCD model. Moreover, we demonstrated that DEX, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, effectively modulated the inflammatory cytokine release by targeting the mmu-miR-125a/TRAF6 axis in both models. The administration of DEX significantly suppressed microglial activation and TRAF6 expression, effects that were reversed by the inhibition of mmu-miR-125a. Conclusion Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying microglial activation and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting the mmu-miR-125a/TRAF6 axis to alleviate neuroinflammation by the administration of DEX in POCD.