Xuan Zhou1, Youwen Yuan2, Fei Teng2, Kangli Li2, Shenjian Luo2, Peizhen Zhang2, Deying Liu2, Huijie Zhang3, Jinhua Zhang4. 1. Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of General Medicine, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. 2. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China. 3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: huijiezhang2005@126.com. 4. Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of General Medicine, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, China. Electronic address: ningzi616@sina.com.
Abstract
AIMS: Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for many metabolic disorders, particularly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. Several lines of evidence indicate that microRNA (miRNA) is a key regulator of lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-183-5p in the development of NAFLD. METHODS: The expression levels of miR-183-5p and B-cell translocation gene 1 (Btg1) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and histological analysis in livers of obese mice and cell models induced with palmitic acid (PA), respectively. AML12 cells were treated with PA in the presence or absence of miR-183-5p mimics or inhibitor. Moreover, a Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine whether Btg1 is the direct target of miR-183-5p. Protein levels of BTG1 were estimated using western blotting. KEY FINDINGS: Expression of miR-183-5p was increased in the livers of three murine models and also in the AML12 cell model. Overexpression of miR-183-5p in the cell model and mice led to hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation and upregulation of lipogenic genes, whereas inhibition of miR-183-5p in the cell model improved hepatic TG accumulation. Mechanistically, we further identified Btg1 as a direct target gene of miR-183-5p. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings revealed that miR-183-5p affected the regulation of hepatic TG homeostasis, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for hepatosteatosis.
AIMS: Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for many metabolic disorders, particularly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. Several lines of evidence indicate that microRNA (miRNA) is a key regulator of lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-183-5p in the development of NAFLD. METHODS: The expression levels of miR-183-5p and B-cell translocation gene 1 (Btg1) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and histological analysis in livers of obesemice and cell models induced with palmitic acid (PA), respectively. AML12 cells were treated with PA in the presence or absence of miR-183-5p mimics or inhibitor. Moreover, a Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine whether Btg1 is the direct target of miR-183-5p. Protein levels of BTG1 were estimated using western blotting. KEY FINDINGS: Expression of miR-183-5p was increased in the livers of three murine models and also in the AML12 cell model. Overexpression of miR-183-5p in the cell model and mice led to hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation and upregulation of lipogenic genes, whereas inhibition of miR-183-5p in the cell model improved hepatic TG accumulation. Mechanistically, we further identified Btg1 as a direct target gene of miR-183-5p. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings revealed that miR-183-5p affected the regulation of hepatic TG homeostasis, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for hepatosteatosis.