title: miR-144 regulates transforming growth factor-β1 iduced hepatic stellate cell activation in human fibrotic liver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into collagen producing myofibroblasts is critical for pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is one of the main profibrogenic mediators for HSC transdifferentiation. Recent studies have shown effect of microRNAs (miRNAs) on regulating TGF-β1-induced HSC activation during liver fibrosis. Here, we aimed to explore the roles of miR-144 and miR-200c in human liver fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of TGF-β1 was detected in 42 fibrotic and 18 normal human liver tissues by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, and its correlation with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was calculated. miR-144 and miR-200c expression level in fibrotic liver tissues were also detected by qRT-PCR. The correlation of TGF-β1 expression with miR-200c and miR-144 in the fibrotic liver was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that TGF-β1 expression was much higher in fibrotic liver than that in normal liver tissues (P<0.05). TGF-β1 protein high expressing liver fibrosis showed α-SMA positive cells in the liver parenchyma indicating activated HSCs. Expression of TGF-β1 in fibrotic liver was significantly correlated with α-SMA expression (R=0.633, P<0.001). Furthermore, miR-144 was less expressed in liver fibrosis (P<0.05) and was significantly correlated with expression of TGF-β1 in fibrotic liver tissues (R=-0.442, P<0.01). However, miR-200c did not show significant difference between normal and fibrotic liver (P=0.48) and correlation with TGF-β1 expression (R=0.106, P=0.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the results indicate that miR-144 can be a novel regulator of TGF-β1-induced HSC activation during liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University 23 Qingnian Road, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Fengen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C554293:MIRN144 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: Hepatic stellate cell; TGF-β1; liver fibrosis; miR-144; miR-200c