Open Access

MicroRNA‑122 inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells induced by the TGF‑β1/Smad signaling pathway

  • Authors:
    • Bianqiao Cheng
    • Qi Zhu
    • Weiguo Lin
    • Lihui Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 13, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6962
  • Pages: 284-290
  • Copyright: © Cheng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1 may stimulate the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), resulting in the development of liver fibrosis. As micro RNA (miRNA)‑122 is known to be associated with liver inflammation, its effects on the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HSCs through the inhibition of the TGF‑β1/drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 4 (Smad4) signaling pathway were investigated. The MTT assay was performed to explore the optimum TGF‑β1 concentration suitable for HSC stimulation. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the transfection efficiency and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blot analysis were used to observe gene and protein expression levels of α‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA), E‑cadherin, N‑cadherin and Smad4, respectively, in HSCs treated with TGF‑β1 or TGF‑β1 and miRNA‑122. MTT assay results indicated that the concentration of 10 µg/l TGF‑β1 was suitable for maximum growth and survival of HSCs. Notably, the mRNA expression levels of N‑cadherin and α‑SMA were significantly increased (each, P<0.05), but the expression levels of E‑cadherin were decreased following 10 µg/l TGF‑β1 treatment. Similar results were observed regarding the protein expression levels of N‑cadherin, α‑SMA and E‑cadherin. Furthermore, the expression of F‑actin was increased in the 10 µg/l TGF‑β1 treated group compared with the 0 µg/l TGF‑β1 treaded group and stretching of the muscle fiber filament was observed. miRNA‑122 lentiviral vector transfection significantly decreased the mRNA expression of N‑cadherin and increased the mRNA expression of E‑cadherin in HSCs stimulated with TGF‑β1, as evident from RT‑qPCR results. Similar results were also observed regarding the protein expression levels of N‑cadherin and E‑cadherin. The expression levels of Smad4, the primary component of the TGF‑β1 signaling pathway, were significantly lower in cells treated with TGF‑β1 and miRNA‑122 (P<0.01) compared those treated with TGF‑β1. Thus, miRNA‑122 may inhibit the activation and EMT of HSCs stimulated by TGF‑β1.
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January-2019
Volume 17 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Cheng B, Zhu Q, Lin W and Wang L: MicroRNA‑122 inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells induced by the TGF‑β1/Smad signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 17: 284-290, 2019.
APA
Cheng, B., Zhu, Q., Lin, W., & Wang, L. (2019). MicroRNA‑122 inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells induced by the TGF‑β1/Smad signaling pathway. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 17, 284-290. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6962
MLA
Cheng, B., Zhu, Q., Lin, W., Wang, L."MicroRNA‑122 inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells induced by the TGF‑β1/Smad signaling pathway". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17.1 (2019): 284-290.
Chicago
Cheng, B., Zhu, Q., Lin, W., Wang, L."MicroRNA‑122 inhibits epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of hepatic stellate cells induced by the TGF‑β1/Smad signaling pathway". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17, no. 1 (2019): 284-290. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6962