Project description:Abstract from Knabel et al. PLoS One (2015): Fibrosis refers to the accumulation of excess extracellular matrix (ECM) components and represents a key feature of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately, no currently available treatments specifically target this important pathogenic mechanism. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally repress target gene expression and the development of miRNA-based therapeutics is being actively pursued for a diverse array of diseases. Because a single miRNA can target multiple genes, often within the same pathway, variations in the level of individual miRNAs can potently influence disease phenotypes. Members of the miR-29 family, which include mir29a, miR-29b and miR-29c, are strong inhibitors of ECM synthesis and fibrosis-associated decreases in miR-29 have been reported in multiple organs. We observed downregulation of miR-29a/b/c in fibrotic livers of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treated mice as well as in isolated human hepatocytes exposed to the pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-β. Importantly, we demonstrate that a single systemic injection of a miR-29a expressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) can prevent and even reverse histologic and biochemical evidence of fibrosis despite continued exposure to CCl4. The observed therapeutic benefits were associated with AAV transduction of hepatocytes but not hepatic stellate cells, which are the main ECM producing cells in fibroproliferative liver diseases. Our data therefore demonstrate that delivery of mir-29 to the hepatic parenchyma using a clinically relevant gene delivery platform protects injured livers against fibrosis and, given the consistent fibrosis-associated downregulation of miR-29, suggests AAV-miR-29 based therapies may be effective in treating a variety of fibroproliferative disorders. The Taqman MicroRNA Array (Taqman Array Rodent MicroRNA A Cards v2.0, ABI) was run, using manufacturer's protocols, on 3 groups of mice with varying amounts fibrotic injury. The groups include carbon tetrachloride intraperitinially injected bi-weekly for 1, 4, and 8 weeks with n=4, 3, and 2 respectively for each group. The RNA was isolated from whole liver using the MiRvana miRNA Isolation Kit (Ambion) according to manufacturer's protocols. The fold_change.txt contains the following data columns; ID_Ref: mmu-miR being quantified not-treated (FC): Fold Change compared to not-treated group using Geometric mean normalization 1 week (FC): Fold Change compared to not-treated group using Geometric mean normalization 4 weeks (FC): Fold Change compared to not-treated group using Geometric mean normalization 8 weeks (FC): Fold Change compared to not-treated group using Geometric mean normalization
Project description:Global analysis of differentially expressed genes of livers of wild type and IL-4/IL-13-/- two days after carbon tetrachloride treatment. Total RNA obtained from isolated livers from vehicle and carbon tetrachloride administered wild type and IL-4/IL-13-/- mice.
Project description:Differential gene expression in mice liver after carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen administration. Livers from control mice were compared with drug treated mice livers at different time points. Keywords: Time-course
Project description:Global analysis of differentially expressed genes of livers of wild type and IL-4/IL-13-/- two days after carbon tetrachloride treatment.
Project description:Abstract from Knabel et al. PLoS One (2015): Fibrosis refers to the accumulation of excess extracellular matrix (ECM) components and represents a key feature of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately, no currently available treatments specifically target this important pathogenic mechanism. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally repress target gene expression and the development of miRNA-based therapeutics is being actively pursued for a diverse array of diseases. Because a single miRNA can target multiple genes, often within the same pathway, variations in the level of individual miRNAs can potently influence disease phenotypes. Members of the miR-29 family, which include mir29a, miR-29b and miR-29c, are strong inhibitors of ECM synthesis and fibrosis-associated decreases in miR-29 have been reported in multiple organs. We observed downregulation of miR-29a/b/c in fibrotic livers of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treated mice as well as in isolated human hepatocytes exposed to the pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-β. Importantly, we demonstrate that a single systemic injection of a miR-29a expressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) can prevent and even reverse histologic and biochemical evidence of fibrosis despite continued exposure to CCl4. The observed therapeutic benefits were associated with AAV transduction of hepatocytes but not hepatic stellate cells, which are the main ECM producing cells in fibroproliferative liver diseases. Our data therefore demonstrate that delivery of mir-29 to the hepatic parenchyma using a clinically relevant gene delivery platform protects injured livers against fibrosis and, given the consistent fibrosis-associated downregulation of miR-29, suggests AAV-miR-29 based therapies may be effective in treating a variety of fibroproliferative disorders.
Project description:To investigate the differences in microRNA expression profiles between fibrotic and normal livers, we performed microRNA microarrays for total RNA extracts isolated from mouse livers treated with carbontetrachloride (CCl4) or corn-oil for 10 weeks (n=3/group). MicroRNAs were considered to have significant differences in expression level when the expression difference showed more than two-fold change between the experimental and control groups at p<0.05. We found that 12 miRNAs were differentially expressed in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver. To induce chronic liver fibrosis, seven-week-old mice received 0.6 ml/kg body weight of carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) dissolved in corn-oil by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, twice a week for 10 weeks (n=3). As a control, same number of mice was injected with equal volume of corn-oil for 10 weeks.
Project description:Differential gene expression in mice liver after carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen administration. Livers from control mice were compared with drug treated mice livers at different time points. Keywords: Time-course Mice (Mus musculus) belonging to control and carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen-administered groups (n=4) were sacrificed. The livers were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, and subsequently stored at -80ºC till further use. Liver samples were homogenized and total RNA was extracted with TRI reagent. 25 ug of total RNA was converted into labeled cDNA using CyScribe first strand cDNA labeling kit. The Cy5 and Cy3 labeled cDNAs were resuspended in Cyscribe Hyb buffer containing 10ug/ml sheared Salmon sperm DNA and 10ug/ml Yeast tRNA. The labeled samples were hybridized to the arrays and incubated for 16-18hrs at 42ºC. Fluorescent array images were collected for both Cy3 and Cy5 with molecular dynamics III scanner supported with ImageQuant v5.0. Image intensity data were extracted and analyzed with ArrayVision v8.0 analysis software. Background corrected data was LOWESS normalized and log ratios were calculated using Avadis v4. Further, mean log ratios were calculated for duplicate spots. Replicate experiments were carried out in dye swap manner for each time point.
Project description:Cell therapy shows great promise as an alternative therapy for the cirrhotic liver. We have previously developed an approach for efficient expansion of both murine and human hepatocyte-derived liver progenitor-like cells (HepLPCs) in vitro without genetic modification. The current study aimed to apply HepLPCs to treatment of liver cirrhosis. The effects of allogeneic HepLPCs transplantation were studied in rat models of liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) . Liver tissues were collected and analyzed by RNA sequencing array to analyze changes in histology or gene expression patterns. Transplantation of HepLPCs reduced active fibrogenesis and net fibrosis in model of liver cirrhosis. Apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) was observed in vivo after HepLPCs treatment.
Project description:To investigate the effects of liver fobrosis and alteration in liver architecture in the regulation of embryonic Kupffer cells identity and funtion, we used a well stablished carbon tetrachloride model to induce liver fibrosis.