MiR-122 regulates collagen production via targeting hepatic stellate cells and suppressing P4HA1 expression.
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ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be involved in many biological processes by affecting their target gene expression. miR-122 has been extensively studied in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the role of miR-122 in liver fibrosis remains unknown.The mRNA expression levels of miR-122, prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha-1 (P4HA1), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP?) were assessed by real-time PCR. The protein expression levels of P4HA1, C/EBP? and collagen, type I, alpha 1 (COL1A1) were analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. MTT assay was used to assess cell proliferation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to examine the binding activity of C/EBP? to miR-122 promoter.miR-122 expression was significantly reduced in transactivated HSCs and in the livers of mice treated with CCl(4). Overexpression of miR-122 inhibited the proliferation of LX2 cells. We also demonstrated that P4HA1 was a target gene of miR-122. The mRNA expression level of PAHA1 inversely correlated with that of miR-122 in HSCs and in the mouse liver. Overexpression of miR-122 markedly attenuated the expression of P4HA1 via targeting a binding site located at 3'-UTR of P4HA1 mRNA. We further showed that miR-122 overexpression led to decreased collagen maturation and ECM production. Finally, the binding activity of C/EBP? to miR-122 promoter was significantly decreased in activated HSCs.Our study suggests that miR-122 may play an important role in negatively regulating collagen production in HSCs and that targeted expression of miR-122 in HSCs may represent a new strategy for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
SUBMITTER: Li J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3619187 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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