title: MicroRNA let-7a ameliorates con A-induced hepatitis by inhibiting IL-6-dependent Th17 cell differentiation.
abstract: In this study we explored the effects of microRNA let-7a on Con A-induced hepatitis and its possible mechanisms involved. We demonstrated that IL-6 and IL-17 expression were significantly upregulated in the liver following Con A treatment and IL-6 level was correlated with the IL-17 expression. To explore whether let-7a may have therapeutic effect on Con A-induced hepatitis, mice was infected with a lentiviral vector containing the let-7a sequence 7 days before Con A treatment. Significantly reduced Th17 cells and remarkably increased regulatory T cells frequency in the liver tissue were found as compared to control mice. It was accompanied by a significant decreased level of inflammatory cytokines as TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ in the serum, and an decreased level of Th17 lineage-specific genes such as Il17a, Il17f, Il21 and Il23r. let-7a was further found to inhibit Th17 differentiation by downregulating IL-6 secretion. It may represent as a novel therapeutic strategy in treating immune-mediated inflammatory hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medicine of Yijishan Hospital, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiangmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Mengying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qifeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000009:adverse effects; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D035683:MicroRNAs; C542687:mirnlet7 microRNA, mouse; D003208:Concanavalin A