Open Access

HBV induces liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway

  • Authors:
    • Wenting Li
    • Xiaolan Yu
    • Xiliu Chen
    • Zheng Wang
    • Ming Yin
    • Zonghao Zhao
    • Chuanwu Zhu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 25, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9600
  • Article Number: 169
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

MicroRNA (miR)‑21‑5p is a newly discovered factor that mediates TGF‑β1 signaling. The present study was designed to investigate the role of TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‑induced liver fibrosis. HBV‑infected sodium taurocholate co‑transporting polypeptide (NTCP)‑transfected Huh7.5.1 cells were co‑cultured with LX2 cells to simulate HBV infection in the present study. A total of 29 patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled. Cells were transfected with miR‑21‑5p mimic or inhibitor with or without TGF‑β1 stimulation. The demographic, biochemical and virological data from the 29 patients were analyzed and liver tissues were collected. miR‑21‑5p levels and the mRNA and protein expression of α‑smooth muscle actin (SMA), collagen type 1 α 1 (CoL1A1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‑1 and Smad from liver cells or tissues were detected by quantitative PCR analysis and western blotting, respectively. Cell viability was observed, and the liver fibrosis score was evaluated. The association between miR‑21‑5p and liver fibrosis was evaluated by correlation analysis. HBV infection upregulated TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p mRNA expression in NTCP‑Huh7.5.1 cells compared with mock infection (P<0.05). TGF‑β1 incubation significantly increased miR‑21‑5p levels, as well as the mRNA and protein expression of α‑SMA, CoL1A1 and TIMP‑1, and reduced Smad7 expression in LX2 cells compared with the normal group, and these effects were counteracted by miR‑21‑5p inhibitor (P<0.05). miR‑21‑5p overexpression also contributed to TGF‑β1‑induced α‑SMA, CoL1A1 and TIMP‑1 expression in LX2 cells (P<0.05). Co‑culture with HBV‑infected NTCP‑Huh7.5.1 cells upregulated TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p activity and CoL1A1 expression in LX2 cells compared with normal control, which were significantly reduced by miR‑21‑5p inhibitor (P<0.05). miR‑21‑5p levels were significantly correlated with the liver fibrosis score (r=0.888; P<0.05). These data demonstrated that HBV induced liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway and suggested that miR‑21‑5p may be an effective anti‑fibrosis target.
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February-2021
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Li W, Yu X, Chen X, Wang Z, Yin M, Zhao Z and Zhu C: HBV induces liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway. Exp Ther Med 21: 169, 2021
APA
Li, W., Yu, X., Chen, X., Wang, Z., Yin, M., Zhao, Z., & Zhu, C. (2021). HBV induces liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 169. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9600
MLA
Li, W., Yu, X., Chen, X., Wang, Z., Yin, M., Zhao, Z., Zhu, C."HBV induces liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.2 (2021): 169.
Chicago
Li, W., Yu, X., Chen, X., Wang, Z., Yin, M., Zhao, Z., Zhu, C."HBV induces liver fibrosis via the TGF‑β1/miR‑21‑5p pathway". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 2 (2021): 169. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9600