biostudies-literatureZhang LChinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical SciencesCAMS Endowment FundFundamental Research Funds for Central UniversitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaOverseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation ("111Center")83https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11744981biostudies-literatureUnknown25(1)Influenza-related acute lung injury is a life-threatening condition primarily caused by uncontrolled replication of the influenza virus and intense proinflammatory responses. Cereblon (CRBN) is a protein known for its role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system and as a target of the drug thalidomide. However, the function of CRBN in influenza virus infection remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of CRBN on A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) influenza virus-induced lung injury and its potential as a therapeutic target. Knocking down CRBN in vitro significantly reduces PR8-induced cell death. Using Sftpc-Cre; Crbn^flox/flox lung-specific Crbn knockout mice, we demonstrated that Crbn deficiency significantly decreased mortality, weight loss, lung pathology, edema, BMC infectious diseasesLung-specific CRBN knockout attenuates influenza a virus-induced acute lung injury in mice: a potential therapeutic approach.PMC117449812021-CAMS-JZ001BP08200292021-I2M-1-0222017PT310178178810181570077Zhang YWang WJiang CZhang LWang XChang JZhou YZhang QfalseLung-specific CRBN knockout attenuates influenza a virus-induced acute lung injury in mice: a potential therapeutic approach.Influenza-related acute lung injury is a life-threatening condition primarily caused by uncontrolled replication of the influenza virus and intense proinflammatory responses. Cereblon (CRBN) is a protein known for its role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system and as a target of the drug thalidomide. However, the function of CRBN in influenza virus infection remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of CRBN on A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) influenza virus-induced lung injury and its potential as a therapeutic target. Knocking down CRBN in vitro significantly reduces PR8-induced cell death. Using Sftpc-Cre; Crbn^flox/flox lung-specific Crbn knockout mice, we demonstrated that Crbn deficiency significantly decreased mortality, weight loss, lung pathology, edema, 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2025-04-03T23:58:07.634Z2025-04-03T23:58:07.634ZS-EPMC117449813983374010.1186/s12879-025-10490-9