1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Inhibits Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells by Up-regulating MiR-146a Expression / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background:1 α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25 (OH) 2 D3],the active form of vitamin D,is reported in some studies having antifibrotic potential in liver fibrosis,however,its mechanism is not fully clarified.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been shown could regulate the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs),and are involved in the promotion or inhibition of liver fibrosis.Aims:To explore whether the inhibiting effect of 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 on activation of HSCs is by regulating miRNAs expression.Methods:Literature review and qPCR method were used to screen out the differentially expressed miRNAs between transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated (activated) HSCs and the inactivated HSCs.Then the HSCs were co-cultured with TGF-β1 and the mimic of differentially expressed miRNA,the negative control mimic,1,25(OH)2D3 and DMSO,respectively,and the cell viability and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry.Results:Expression of miR-146a was down-regulated in activated HSCs (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with HSCs in DMSO group,the expression of miR-146a was significantly up-regulated in HSCs treated with 1,25 (OH) 2 D3;meanwhile,the cell viability was decreased and the apoptosis was increased (P all ＜ 0.05).In HSCs transfected with miR-146a mimic,the expression of miR-146a was up-regulated,the cell viability was decreased,and the apoptosis was increased similarly with HSCs in 1,25 (OH)2D3 group (P all ＜ 0.05).Conclusions:Regulation of miR-146a expression might be one of the important mechanisms of 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 in inhibiting TGF-β1-stimulated HSC activation and inducing apoptosis in HSCs.