Inhibitory effect of miR-125b on hepatitis C virus core protein-induced TLR2/MyD88 signaling in THP-1 cells.

Aim: To investigate the role of miR-125b in regulating monocyte immune responses induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein.

Methods: Monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with various concentrations of recombinant HCV core protein, and cytokines and miR-125b expression in these cells were analyzed. The requirement of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) or MyD88 gene for HCV core protein-induced immune responses was determined by the transfection of THP-1 cells with gene knockdown vectors expressing either TLR2 siRNA or MyD88 siRNA.

Involvement of TLR2-MyD88 in abnormal expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

miR-146a is an immunoregulatory microRNA closely associated with viral infection. This study investigated the expression changes of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients and the mechanism by which the THP-1 cells were stimulated with HCV core protein in vitro. It was found that in the peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients, miR-146a expression was upregulated.

Effect of the protease inhibitor MG132 on the transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling pathway in HSC-T6 cells.

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and their transformation to myofibroblasts are the key steps in the pathological progress of liver fibrosis. The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)/Smad pathway is involved in the proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSCs. This study aimed to examine the effect of the protease inhibitor MG132 on the signaling pathway of TGFβ/Smad in HSC-T6 cells and seek a novel therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.

[Study on the effect of heluoshugan capsule on liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Chinese traditional medicine heluoshugan capsule on liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice.

Methods: Liver fibrosis in mice was established by Schistosoma japonicum infection in 6 weeks. Suspension of heluoshugan prepared with normal saline was given orally to the mice, 2 capsules for 20 mice daily for 8 weeks.