Influence of miR-26b on hepatic cirrhosis and portal pressure in rats with cirrhotic portal hypertension by targeting hENT1 depending on RhoA/ROCK-1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the regulatory effect of micro ribonucleic acid-26b (miR-26b) on rat models of cirrhotic portal hypertension and the underlying mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Common bile duct ligation (BDL) was applied to establish rat models. A total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group), operation group (BDL group) and miR-26b intervention group (miR-26b mimic group). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assay was performed to detect pathological characteristics of rat liver tissues in each group. The portal venous pressure in each group was then determined. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in rat serum were measured via serological test. Kits were used to detect serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen III peptide (PCIII) and laminin (LN) in rats. Western blotting was utilized to detect the protein levels of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1), ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) and Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing kinase protein-1 (Rock-1).

RESULTS

In comparison with Sham group, BDL group had significantly increased portal venous pressure and protein levels of hENT1, RhoA and ROCK-1, and elevated levels of AST, ALT, HA, PCIII and LN in rats. Compared with those in BDL group, the portal venous pressure and protein levels of hENT1, RhoA and ROCK-1 were overtly reduced, while the levels of AST, ALT, HA, PCIII and LN declined in miR-26b mimic group.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-26b mimics played a role in the treatment of rats with cirrhotic portal hypertension by targeting hENT1 to inhibit the RhoA/ROCK-1 signaling pathway.