title: Expression of microRNA-454 in TGF-β1-stimulated hepatic stellate cells and in mouse livers infected with Schistosoma japonicum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the process of hepatic fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can be activated by many inflammatory cytokines. The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is one of the main profibrogenic mediators. Recently, some studies have also shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in the progress of liver fibrosis by being involved in the differentiation, fat metabolism and ECM production of HSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of miR-454 in LX-2 cells treated with TGF-β1 and in the fibrotic livers with Schistosoma japonicum infection was detected by qRT-PCR. The role of miR-454 on LX-2 cells was then analyzed by Western blot, flow cytometry and luciferase assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the expression of miR-454 was down-regulated in the TGF-β1-treated LX-2 cells and miR-454 could inhibit the activation of HSCs by directly targeting Smad4. However, we found that miR-454 had no effect on cell cycle and cell proliferation in TGF-β1-treated LX-2. Besides these, miR-454 was found to be regulated in the process of Schistosoma japonicum infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the results suggested that miR-454 could provide a novel therapeutic approach for treating liver fibrosis, especially the liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China. yinongduan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yinong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jinling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jinrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feifan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lingbo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000502:physiology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C583712:MIRN454 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1