DEX significantly attenuated renal injury in AKI by decreasing activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and expression of IL-1β and IL-18. In addition, DEX could significantly enhance autophagy via the alpha2-adrenoreceptor/AMPK/mTOR pathway, which inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome. This evidence concerns the gene NLRP3 and acute kidney injury.