Conclusion
TSLG effectively improved postoperative liver function by downregulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 157 patients diagnosed with HL, who were divided into two groups: the control group and the research group. In the control group, no treatment was given postoperatively, while in the research group, TSLG was orally administered three times a day postoperatively for two months. Both groups were followed up by telephone at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months postoperatively. Liver function indicators were measured before and after surgery, and miRNA expression profiling was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Additionally, the expression levels of related proteins were assessed through western blots.
Results
Postoperative liver function indicators were significantly lower in the research group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, 64 miRNAs were differentially expressed in HL patients. Further analysis of 64 miRNAs revealed their abnormal targeting of the Hippo signaling pathway. Further experimental results indicate that TAZ protein expression is elevated in HL patients, reflecting abnormal activation of the Hippo signaling pathway in these patients. TSLG treatment significantly reduced the expression of YAP, TAZ, and SREBP-2 proteins, while increasing the expression of p-YAP and p-TAZ proteins (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, TSLG inhibited the Extracellular Acidification Rate (ECAR) in LPS-induced WRL68 cells.