Dongmin Li1, Xuan Wang1, Xi Lan1, Yue Li1, Li Liu1, Jing Yi1, Jing Li1, Qingzhu Sun1, Yili Wang2, Hongmin Li3, Nannan Zhong4, Rikard Holmdahl5, Shemin Lu6. 1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China. 2. Research Institute of Cancer, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. 3. School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. 4. Xi'an Health School, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China. 5. Division of Medical Inflammation Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China. Electronic address: shemin.lu@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze regulatory microRNA(s) leading to increased TLR2 expression in livers of high-fat-diet induced metabolic syndrome (HFD-MetS) in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: TLRs, inflammatory cytokines, candidate miRNAs targeting key TLR and its cellular localization were determined in liver. The miR-144 targeting TLR2 and regulating TLR2 signaling were further determined by dual luciferase reporter assay and miR-144 mimics or inhibitor. RESULTS: Expression of miR-144 was negatively correlated with TLR2 expression in Kupffer cells. The miR-144 bound to 3'UTR of rat TLR2 mRNA. In addition, compared to control group, TLR2, TNF-α, IFN-γ and activation of NF-κB decreased after miR-144 mimic challenge in NR8383 cells and BMM from E3 rats, which could be compensated by Pam3CSK4; while opposite effects on their expressions were observed after miR-144 inhibitor administration, augmented by Pam3CSK4. CONCLUSION: Decreased miR-144 could enhance TNF-α and IFN-γ production by targeting TLR2 in vitro, and might contribute to TLR2 up-regulation and the progression of NASH in HFD-MetS E3 rats. This might offer a novel and potential target for NASH therapy.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze regulatory microRNA(s) leading to increased TLR2 expression in livers of high-fat-diet induced metabolic syndrome (HFD-MetS) in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: TLRs, inflammatory cytokines, candidate miRNAs targeting key TLR and its cellular localization were determined in liver. The miR-144 targeting TLR2 and regulating TLR2 signaling were further determined by dual luciferase reporter assay and miR-144 mimics or inhibitor. RESULTS: Expression of miR-144 was negatively correlated with TLR2 expression in Kupffer cells. The miR-144 bound to 3'UTR of ratTLR2 mRNA. In addition, compared to control group, TLR2, TNF-α, IFN-γ and activation of NF-κB decreased after miR-144 mimic challenge in NR8383 cells and BMM from E3 rats, which could be compensated by Pam3CSK4; while opposite effects on their expressions were observed after miR-144 inhibitor administration, augmented by Pam3CSK4. CONCLUSION: Decreased miR-144 could enhance TNF-α and IFN-γ production by targeting TLR2 in vitro, and might contribute to TLR2 up-regulation and the progression of NASH in HFD-MetS E3 rats. This might offer a novel and potential target for NASH therapy.