The miR-23b/27b/24-1 Cluster Inhibits Hepatic Fibrosis by Inactivating Hepatic Stellate Cells

Ganoderma lucidum ethanol extracts ameliorate hepatic fibrosis and promote the communication between metabolites and gut microbiota g_Ruminococcus through the NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smads pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ganoderma lucidum, a traditional edible medicinal mushroom, has been widely reported to improve liver diseases as a dietary intervention for people. Ganoderma lucidum extracts, primarily total triterpenoids (GLTTs), are one of the bioactive ingredients that have excellent beneficial effects on hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, its prevention and reversal are particularly critical due to the increasing number of patients with chronic liver diseases worldwide.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to evaluate whether GLTTs had a hepatoprotective effect against hepatic fibrosis through metabolic perturbations and gut microbiota changes and its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The compound compositions of GLTTs were quantified, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis rats were used to investigate the cause of the improvement in various physiological states with GLTTs treatment, and to determine whether its consequent effect was associated with endogenous metabolites and gut microbiota using UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology.

RESULTS

GLTTs alleviated physical status, reduced liver pathological indicators, proinflammatory cytokines, and deposition of hepatic collagen fibers via regulating the NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smads pathways. The untargeted metabolomics analysis identified 16 potential metabolites that may be the most relevant metabolites for gut microbiota dysbiosis and the therapeutic effects of GLTTs in hepatic fibrosis. Besides, although GLTTs did not significantly affect the α-diversity indexes, significant changes were observed in the composition of microflora structure. In addition, Spearman analysis revealed strong correlations between endogenous metabolites and gut microbiota g_Ruminococcus with hepatic fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

GLTTs could provide a potential target for the practical design and application of novel functional food ingredients or drugs in the therapy of hepatic fibrosis.

[Qingshen Granules-medicated serum reduces transdifferentiation of NRK-52E cells by miR-23b-5p-mediated activation of the Nrf2 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

TTo investigate the targeted regulation of the Nrf2 pathway by miR-23b-5p in transdifferentiation of rat renal tubular epithelial NRK-52E cells induced by transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1)and the effect of Qingshen Granulesmedicated serum for alleviating transdifferentiation of NRK-52E cells.

METHODS

NRK-52E cells with TGF-β1-induced transdifferentiation were transfected with miR-23b-5p mimic, miR-23b-5p inhibitor or the negative control(NC)siRNA and then treated with of Qingshen Granules-medicated serum.CCK8 assay was used to detectthe changes in viability of NRK-52E cells.The targeting relationship between miR-23b-5p and Nrf2 was verified using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay.The expressions of Nrf2, Keap1 and α-SMA mRNAs and proteins in the treated cells were detected with RT-qPCR and Western blotting, and ROS production in the cells was detected with flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Transfection of NRK-52E cells with miR-23b-5p mimic significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 mRNA, while inhibition of miR-23b-5p obviously lowered Nrf2 mRNA in the cells.Rno-miR-23b-5p significantly down-regulated the luciferase activity of Rno-Nrf2-wt but not that of Rno-Nrf2-mu(P<0.05).Treatment with TGF-β1 significantly decreased the expressions of miR-23b-5p and Nrf2 and increased the expressions of Keap1, α-SMA and ROS in NRK-52E cells(P<0.05), and these changes were obviously ameliorated by treatment with 20% Qingshen Granules-medicated serum for 24 h.Transfection of the cells with miR-23b-mimic significantly decreased the expressions of Keap1, α-SMA and ROS(P<0.05), which were further decreased by treatment with the medicated serum(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Qingshen Granules-medicated serum reduces transdifferentiation of NRK-52E cells via miR-23b-5pmediated activation of the Nrf2 pathway.