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Inhibitory effect of a human microRNA, miR-6133-5p, on the fibrotic activity of hepatic stellate cells in culture

ABSTRACT: Purpose: We recently identified 39 human microRNAs, which effectively suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in hepatocytes. Because chronic HBV infection often results in active, hepatitis-related liver fibrosis, we assessed whether any of these microRNAs have anti-fibrotic potential and predicted that miR-6133-5p may target several fibrosis-related genes. Methods: The hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 was transfected with miR-6133-5p mimic and subsequently treated with TGF-β. mRNA and protein products of COL1A1, encoding collagen, and ACTA2, an activation marker of hepatic stellate cells, were quantified. Results: Expression of COL1A1 and ACTA2 was markedly reduced in LX-2 cells treated with miR-6133-5p. Interestingly, phosphorylation of JNK also was significantly decreased by miR-6133-5p treatment. The expression of several predicted target genes of miR-6133-5p, including TGFBR2 and FGFR1, was also reduced in miR-6133-5p-treated cells. The knockdown of TGFBR2 by the corresponding small interfering RNA greatly suppressed the expression of COL1A1 and ACTA2. Treatment with the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, also suppressed COL1A1 and ACTA2 expression, indicating that TGFBR2 and JNK would mediate the anti-fibrotic effect of miR-6133-5p. Downregulation of FGFR1 may result in a decrease of phosphorylated AKT, ERK, and JNK. Conclusions: miR-6133-5p has a strong anti-fibrotic effect, mediated by inactivation of TGFBR2, AKT and JNK.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE158478 | GEO | 2020/09/25

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Tissue fibrosis is a significant health issue associated with organ dysfunction and failure. Increased deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the interstitial area is a major process in the formation of tissue fibrosis. The microRNA-29 (miR-29) family has been demonstrated as anti-fibrotic microRNAs. Our recent work also showed that dysregulation of miR-29 contributes to the formation of cardiac fibrosis in animal models of uremic cardiomyopathy and replenish of miR-29 attenuated cardiac fibrosis in these animals. However, due to the multi-targeting effect, overexpression of miR-29 could result in unexpected side effect. In the current study, we constructed a novel col1a1-miR-29b vector using collagen 1a1 promoter, which can strategically express miR-29b-3p (miR-29b) in cells with high expression of collagen and thus minimize the side effect of excessive miR-29b. Because of the similarity between the col1a1 promoter in the plasmid and the endogenous col1a1 promoter in the cell, pro-fibrotic factors that stimulate endogenous collagen expression will simultaneously activate the col1a1 promoter in the plasmid vector and thus stimulate the anti-fibrotic miR-29b expression. The increased miR-29b will then contra-regulate the collagen synthesis and maintain a dynamic balance of collagen. To evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of miR-29b overexpression, we performed RNA sequencing in MEF cells transfected with the col1a1-miR-29b vector with or without TGF-β treatment. A CMV-miR-29b vector was used as positive control. The RNA-sequencing data showed that TGF-β treatment upregulated a broad spectrum of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes. In accordance, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis using GAGE package showed that the top 5 upregulated pathways after TGF-β treatment were mostly fibrosis-related, including focal adhesion, ECM reaction, and TGF-β signaling pathways, while transfection of miR-29b expression vectors attenuated the activation of these pathways, suggesting their anti-fibrotic effect. However, despite that the expression of miR-29b in CMV-miR-29b transfected cells were about 1000 times higher compared to the col1a1-miR-29b transfected cells, there was no significant difference in the anti-fibrotic effect in these cells. In summary, our work demonstrated that the col1a1-miR-29b vector expresses much lower miR-29b compared to the CMV-miR-29b vector, but it is as effective as the CMV-miR-29b vector in blocking the fibrosis-related signaling pathways in response to TGF-β treatment. Our results also suggest that miR-29b has a moderate effect on each of its targeting genes, and its anti-fibrotic effect may result from perturbation of a broad spectrum of fibrosis-related signaling pathways.

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Inhibitory effect of a human microRNA, miR-6133-5p, on the fibrotic activity of hepatic stellate cells in culture

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