ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of selective histone deacetylases 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor 23BB in myoglobin-induced proximal tubular cell lines (HK-2).MethodsHK-2 cells were divided into 5 groups, including control group, myoglobin (200 μmol/L) group, myoglobin (200 μmol/L)+23BB (1.25 nmol/L) group, myoglobin (200 μmol/L)+4-phenylbutyric acid (2 mmol/L) group, and myoglobin (200 μmol/L)+23BB (1.25 nmol/L)+tunicamycin (25 ng/mL) group. Cells were collected at 24 hours after treatment. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related gene mRNA level and marker protein expression were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, including glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6.ResultsIn in vitro study, ER stress-related mRNA of GRP78, IRE1α, PERK, and CHOP and marker protein expression of GRP78 and CHOP were found to increase in response to myoglobin treatment. Either administration of 23BB or 4-PBA could alleviate myoglobin-induced these changes.ConclusionThe protective effect of HDAC6 inhibitor 23BB is through the inhibition of myoglobin-induced ER stress in HK-2 cells.