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  • Title: Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells is Inhibited by microRNA-378a-3p via Wnt10a.
    Author: Yu F, Fan X, Chen B, Dong P, Zheng J.
    Journal: Cell Physiol Biochem; 2016; 39(6):2409-2420. PubMed ID: 27832641.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND/AIMS: Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in liver fibrosis and microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered as key regulators of the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). A recent study showed the protective role of miR-378a-3p against cardiac fibrosis. However, whether miR-378a-3p suppresses Wnt/β-catenin pathway in liver fibrosis is largely unknown. METHODS: miR-378a-3p expression was detected in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and activated HSCs. Effects of miR-378a-3p overexpression on HSC activation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were analyzed. Bioinformatic analysis was employed to identify the potential targets of miR-378a-3p. Serum miR-378a-3p expression was analyzed in patients with cirrhosis. RESULTS: Reduced miR-378a-3p expression was observed in the fibrotic liver tissues and activated HSCs. Up-regulation of miR-378a-3p inhibited HSC activation including cell proliferation, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen expression. Moreover, miR-378a-3p overexpression resulted in Wnt/β-catenin pathway inactivation. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that Wnt10a, a member of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, was confirmed to be a target of miR-378a-3p. By contrast, miR-378a-3p inhibitor contributed to HSC activation, with an increase in cell proliferation, α-SMA and collagen expression. But all these effects were blocked down by silencing of Wnt10a. Notably, sera from patients with cirrhosis contained lower levels of miR-378a-3p than sera from healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that serum miR-378a-3p differentiated liver cirrhosis patients from healthy controls, with an area under the curve of ROC curve of 0.916. CONCLUSION: miR-378a-3p suppresses HSC activation, at least in part, via targeting of Wnt10a, supporting its potential utility as a novel therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
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