MicroRNA 200a inhibits liver fibrosis of schistosoma

ABSTRACT

MicroRNA 200a (miR-200a) can inhibit the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) through the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, and improve fibrotic lesions. However, to date, there is no study exploring the role of miR-200a in schistosomiasis liver fibrosis (SLF). In this study, 64 healthy female Balb/c mice were selected and randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (non-infected schistosomiasis group), schistosomiasis model group, Lenti-NC group (lentivirus-negative control group), and Lenti-miR-200a group (lentivirus experimental group). Fluorescence quantitative PCR detection was used to measure the expression level of RNA. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of mouse liver tissue. Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect the serum concentrations of inflammation factors. We found that the expression level of miR-200a in liver tissues gradually decreased with the development of SLF. However, fibrosis factors (α-SMA and TGF-β2) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-γ) in liver tissues and serum increased and the expression level of Colla I reached its peak in the 6th week of infection. Besides, compared with the schistosomiasis group and Lenti-NC group, the Lenti-NC group had lower levels of α-SMA, TGF-β2 and Colla I (P > 0.05). Furthermore, inflammatory cells and blue collagen fibers appeared and they increased with the development of infection in the schistosomiasis group and Lenti-NC group, but these changes reduced significantly in Lenti-miR-200a group. Our study demonstrated that upregulation of miR-200a might contribute to inhibiting schistosomiasis liver fibrosis.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Mir-200a
• schistosoma japonicum
• tgf-β
• liver fibrosis

Acknowledgements

None.

Disclosure statement

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

Authors contribution

Xu A. and Zhong G. designed the study. Wang J. did the literature research. Liu C. and Liu Y. conducted the experiments and acquired the data. Xu A. performed the statistical analyses. Xu A. drafted the manuscript. Wang W. reviewed the paper. All authors read and approved the final version.

Highlights

1. The expression of miR-200a was down-regulated during the progression of schistosomiasis liver fibrosis;

2. Up-regulating the expression of miR-200a effectively inhibited the expression of α-SMA, Colla I and TGF-β2;

3. miR-200a can improve to a certain extent liver tissue worm egg granuloma and fibrotic lesions caused by schistosomiasis.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Ethic approval and informed consent

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Hunan Aerospace Hospital.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.