Chronic exposure to ethanol alters the expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 in alcoholic liver disease in an adult zebrafish model

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic and circulating expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 in a model of chronic exposure to ethanol in adult zebrafish.

Methods

Wild-type adult zebrafish were divided into two groups (n = 281): an EG (exposed to 0.5% v/v Ethanol in aquarium water) and a CG (without ethanol). After 28 days the animals were euthanized, followed by histopathological analysis, quantification of lipids, triglycerides and inflammatory cytokines in liver tissue. miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 gene expression was quantified in liver tissue and serum.

Results

We observed hepatic lesions and increased accumulation of hepatic lipids in the EG. The expression of il-1β was higher in the EG, but there were no differences in il-10 and tnf-α between groups. In the liver, expression of miR-122 and miR-155 was higher in the EG. The circulating expression of miR-155 and miR-217 was significantly higher in the EG.

Conclusion

Chronic exposure to ethanol in zebrafish leads to altered hepatic and circulating expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217. This confirms its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Keywords:

• Alcoholic liver disease
• miR-217
• miR-122
• miR-155
• Zebrafish
• Ethanol

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Institutional animal care and use committee statement

The protocols were approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil (No. 14.0160). The protocols were conducted in accordance with international guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. Animal care is described in the manuscript.

Data sharing statement

The technical appendix, statistical code, and dataset are available from the corresponding author at [email protected]. No additional data are available.

Additional information

Funding

We would like to thank Research Incentive Fund – Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (FIPE – HCPA), CNPq (National Council for Technological and Scientific Development) and CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) for financial support.