Circulating extracellular vesicles with liver-specific RNA species are potential biomarkers for early cholestasis-induced liver fibrosis [RNA-seq]
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ABSTRACT: Aims Biliary diseases represent around 10% of all chronic liver diseases and affect both adults and children. Currently available biochemical tests detect cholestasis but not early liver fibrosis. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) provide a real-time molecular snapshot of the injured organ in a non-invasive way. We thus aimed at searching for a panel of EV-based biomarkers for cholestasis-induced early liver fibrosis using mice models. Results: Progressive and detectable histological evidence of collagen deposition and liver fibrosis was observed as from Day 8 after bile duct ligation (BDL) in mice. Whole transcriptome and small RNA-seq analyses of circulating EVs revealed differentially enriched RNA species after BDL versus sham controls. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identified a signature that allowed for discrimination between BDL and controls. In particular, 151 microRNAs enriched in BDL-derived EVs were identified, of which 66 were conserved in humans. The liver was an important source of circulating EVs in BDL animals as evidenced by the enrichment of several hepatic mRNAs, such as Albumin, Haptoglobin, Transferrin receptor 1 and Alas2. Interestingly, among experimentally validated miRNAs, miR194-5p and miR29-3p showed similar enrichment patterns also in EVs derived from DDC-treated (drug-induced cholestasis) and MDR2-/- (genetic cholestasis) mice. Innovation A panel of mRNAs and miRNAs contained in circulating EVs, when combined, provides sensitive biomarkers for the early detection of hepatic damage and fibrosis. Conclusion Analysis of EVs for enrichment in miR29-3p and miR194-5p, in combination with hepatic injury RNA markers, could represent a sensitive biomarker panel for the early detection of cholestasis-induced liver fibrosis.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE166752 | GEO | 2022/02/28
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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