Frontiers in pharmacology
hsa_circ_0001377 promotes hepatic fibrosis by sponging let-7a-5p and targeting TGFBR1, Smad2, and Col1a2
Von Zhou J, Liu J, Wu D und 3 weiteren.
Inhalt auf Englisch
Abstract
Background
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is primarily driven by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently gained increasing attention in HF research.
Methods
RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses revealed elevated hsa_circ_0001377 expression in human HF tissues. Its circular structure and subcellular localization were identified using Sanger sequencing, RNase R treatment, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted to elucidate the role of hsa_circ_0001377 in the human HSC line LX-2. Furthermore, the in vitro and in vivo effects of the hsa_circ_0001377/let-7a-5p/TGFBR1, Smad2, and Col1a2 regulatory axis were investigated using cytological assays and a bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced mouse model of HF.