Abstract
MicroRNA 200a (miR-200a) can inhibit the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) through the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, and improve fibrotic lesions. However, to date, there is no study exploring the role of miR-200a in schistosomiasis liver fibrosis (SLF). In this study, 64 healthy female Balb/c mice were selected and randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (non-infected schistosomiasis group), schistosomiasis model group, Lenti-NC group (lentivirus-negative control group), and Lenti-miR-200a group (lentivirus experimental group). Fluorescence quantitative PCR detection was used to measure the expression level of RNA. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of mouse liver tissue. Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect the serum concentrations of inflammation factors. We found that the expression level of miR-200a in liver tissues gradually decreased with the development of SLF. However, fibrosis factors (α-SMA and TGF-β2) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-γ) in liver tissues and serum increased and the expression level of Colla I reached its peak in the 6th week of infection. Besides, compared with the schistosomiasis group and Lenti-NC group, the Lenti-NC group had lower levels of α-SMA, TGF-β2 and Colla I (P > 0.05). Furthermore, inflammatory cells and blue collagen fibers appeared and they increased with the development of infection in the schistosomiasis group and Lenti-NC group, but these changes reduced significantly in Lenti-miR-200a group. Our study demonstrated that upregulation of miR-200a might contribute to inhibiting schistosomiasis liver fibrosis.