Changes of miR-141 Expression during Development of Rat Liver Fibrosis

Objective: To investigate the expression changes and function of microRNA-141(miR-141),one member of the microRNA-200 family,in the process of hepatic fibrosis in rats.Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control groups and liver fibrosis groups.Liver fibrosis model was established by hypodermic injection of 60% CCl4.The rats were sacrificed in 4 and 8 weeks respectively,and experimental groups were named liver fibrosis groups 4-week and 8-week.Liver index,the contents of glutamic propylic transaminase(ALT) and glutamic oxaolacetic transaminase(AST) were detected,and morphological changes of liver were observed.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was employed to determine the expression levels of miR-141 in liver tissue of rats in each group.Results: Liver index,serum ALT and AST levels in each liver fibrosis group were obviously higher than those in control groups(P0.01).Pathological discovery showed that fibrous connective tissue significantly increased in 4 weeks after liver fibrosis model established and this change was more obvious with time passing,and false lobes were found in rat liver in group 8-week.The expression level of miR-141 in group 4-week was obviously lower than that in corresponding control group(P0.01),and was higher in group 8-week than that in its corresponding control group(P0.01) and that in group 4-week(P0.01).Conclusions: Expression level of miR-141 obviously changes in the process of CCl4 induced liver fibrosis,Which suggests that miR-141 may be involved in the development of rat liver fibrosis.