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microRNA-146a is involved in rSjP40-inhibited activation of LX-2 cells by targeting Smad4 expression

Dandan Zhu1, Bin Hu1, Yonghua Zhou2

  • 1Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
|June 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant Schistosoma japonicum protein P40 (rSjP40) activates miR-146a, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. This suggests a new mechanism for rSjP40 in regulating hepatic fibrosis.

Area of Science:

  • * Molecular biology
  • * Cellular biology
  • * Immunology

Background:

  • * Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation drives hepatic fibrosis.
  • * The recombinant Schistosoma japonicum protein P40 (rSjP40) inhibits HSC activation via the TGF-β1/Smads pathway.
  • * MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in HSC activation and fibrosis by targeting Smads.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To identify potential microRNAs involved in rSjP40-mediated inhibition of HSC activation.
  • * To elucidate the role of miR-146a in the rSjP40 signaling pathway.
  • * To investigate the mechanism of rSjP40 in regulating hepatic fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • * Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to measure gene expression.
  • * Treatment of LX-2 cells (a human HSC cell line) with rSjP40.
  • * Use of an miR-146a inhibitor to assess its functional role.

Main Results:

  • * rSjP40 significantly induced miR-146a expression in LX-2 cells.
  • * Down-regulation of Smad4 and α-SMA induced by rSjP40 was partially reversed by an miR-146a inhibitor.
  • * miR-146a targets Smad4, mediating rSjP40's inhibitory effect on HSC activation.

Conclusions:

  • * miR-146a plays a crucial role in rSjP40-induced inhibition of HSC activation.
  • * The mechanism involves miR-146a targeting Smad4.
  • * Findings offer novel insights into rSjP40's antifibrotic potential and its regulatory pathways.
Keywords:
Schistosoma japonicumSmad4hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)microRNA-146a

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