Background: Nicotine, the main compound of smoking may exert its effects by changing the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). This study was conducted to further investigate the molecular mechanisms of miRNA-dependent effects of nicotine in an animal model of liver fibrosis.
Methods: The bile duct ligation (BDL) approach was used to create a model of liver fibrosis. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used in the study. The effects of nicotine administration on miRNA-124 expression, as well as alpha-smooth muscle actin (liver fibrosis marker) and chemokine ligand 2 (an inflammatory chemokine), were investigated using RT-qPCR. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3; as a potential target for miRNA-124) were investigated by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. Liver enzyme activity levels were measured using a colorimetric assay. In addition, the effects of nicotine on the process of liver fibrosis were investigated with histological studies.
Results: The development of liver fibrosis in BDL rats and nicotine administration led to a decrease in miRNA-124 expression. The decrease in the expression is accompanied by the increase in the expression of fibrotic and proinflammatory genes. Also, an increase in STAT-3 mRNA and protein expression was observed in the fibrotic rats that received nicotine. In addition, the significant increase in bilirubin and liver enzymes in fibrotic rats worsens with nicotine administration. The results of histological studies also confirm these results.
Conclusion: Considering that miRNA-124 is an anti-inflammatory miRNA, it can be concluded that the decrease in its expression due to nicotine exposure leads to an increase in inflammatory processes and subsequently to an increase in liver fibrosis.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10976767 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40360-024-00749-3 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Bacillus coagulans alleviates hepatic injury caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in rabbits.
PLoS One
January 2025
College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
Background: As an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is prone to causing a spectrum of diseases in rabbits when their immune system is compromised, which poses a threat to rabbit breeding industry. Bacillus coagulans (BC), recognized as an effective probiotic, confers a variety of benefits including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary BC can effectively alleviate hepatic injury caused by KP.
Background & Aims: This systematic literature review of qualitative findings aims to identify the perceived barriers and enablers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance from patient and clinician perspectives.
Methods: A systematic search of databases using key term combinations with the following inclusion criteria: 1) qualitative and quantitative (survey) studies exploring barriers and enablers of HCC surveillance, and 2) qualitative and quantitative (survey) studies exploring barriers and enablers of enagagement in clinical care for patients with cirrhosis and/or viral hepatitis.
Results: The search returned 445 citations: 371 did not meet the study criteria and were excluded.
Functional cure of a young child with chronic hepatitis B cirrhosis treated by pegylated interferon α combination therapy: A case report.
Medicine (Baltimore)
January 2025
Jumei Doctor Group Medical (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China.
Rationale: Current research on antiviral treatment in children is relatively limited, especially in children under 1 year old.
Patient Concerns: Liu XX, an 8-month-old infant (case number: 3001120473), presented to the hospital in August 2016 with a chief complaint of being "hepatitis B surface antigen positive for 8 months and experiencing abnormal liver function for 5 months."
Diagnoses: The patient was diagnosed as chronic hepatitis B cirrhosis (G3S3-4) with active compensatory phase.
From Monocyclization to Pentacyclization: A Versatile Plant Cyclase Produces Diverse Sesterterpenes with Anti-Liver Fibrosis Potential.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, and Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, P. R. China.
A prolific multi-product sesterterpene synthase CbTPS1 is characterized from the medicinal Brassicaceae plant Capsella bursa-pastoris. Twenty different sesterterpenes including 16 undescribed compounds, possessing 10 different mono-/di-/tri-/tetra-/penta-carbocyclic skeletons, including the unique 15-membered macrocyclic and 24(15→14)-abeo-capbuane scaffolds, are isolated and structurally elucidated from engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing CbTPS1. Site-directed mutagenesis assisted by molecular dynamics simulations resulted in the variant L354M with up to 13.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe adiponectin-PPARγ axis in hepatic stellate cells regulates liver fibrosis.
Cell Rep
January 2025
Touchstone Diabetes Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address:
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key drivers of local fibrosis. Adiponectin, conventionally thought of as an adipokine, is also expressed in quiescent HSCs. However, the impact of its local expression on the progression of liver fibrosis remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!