MiR-93 blocks STAT3 to alleviate hepatic injury after ischemia-reperfusion

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is correlated with ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. The previous studies showed a decreased miR-93 expression after I-R injury of heart or brain organs, but without knowledge in liver tissues. This study aims to investigate effects of MiR-93 on the hepatic injury after ischemia/reperfusion.

Rat liver I-R model was generated. Liver function indexes including alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were quantified, and serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were quantified. Hepatic tissue apoptosis was measured by transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), and expression of microRNA-93 (miR-93), STAT3, and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) were measured. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed targeted relationship between miR-93 and STAT3. Agomir or miR-93 agomir was injected into the peritoneal cavity of I-R model, followed by ALT and AST assays. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured, followed by TUNEL assay for comparing STAT3 and p-STAT3 expression.

Comparing to sham group, I-R group rat showed significantly elevated serum ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 contents, along with significantly elevated hepatic cell apoptosis, plus decreased miR-93 expression, whilst STAT3 and p-STAT3 expression was enhanced. Intraperitoneal injection of miR-93 agomir significantly decreased STAT3 or p-STAT3 expression, and decreased cell apoptotic rate. Serum levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, accompanied by improved liver function.

Hepatic I-R injury is accompanied by miR-93 down-regulation, plus STAT3 up-regulation. Overexpression of miR-93 significantly depressed STAT3 expression in liver I-R injury, alleviated hepatic injury or apoptosis, decreased inflammatory response, and improved liver function.