Effect of Atorvastatin, Curcumin, and Quercetin on miR-21 and miR-122 and their correlation with TGFβ1 expression in experimental liver fibrosis

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 259; p. 118293
• Main Authors: Nozari, Elham, Moradi, Ali, Samadi, Morteza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 15.10.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Atorvastatin; Bile; Bile ducts; Correlation; Curcumin; Fibrosis; Gene expression; Inflammation; Liver; Liver fibrosis; MiR-122; MiR-21; Quercetin; Rat; Rodents; TGFβ1; Transforming growth factor-b1; TGFβ1; MiR-21; Rat; Quercetin; Atorvastatin; Curcumin; Liver fibrosis; MiR-122
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118293

Liver fibrosis is an inflammatory and fibrogenic process that occurs following chronic liver damage. TGFβ1 is the key inducer of fibrosis. MiR-21 and miR-122 are two miRNAs that their expression changes during fibrosis. In the present study, we investigate the effects of curcumin, quercetin, and atorvastatin on the expression levels of miR-21 and miR-122 and evaluated their correlation with TGFβ1 expression in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced fibrotic rats. Thirty two adult male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups (n = 8 for each): Sham, Sham + curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), Sham + quercetin (30 mg/kg/day), Sham + atorvastatin (15 mg/kg/day), BDL, BDL + curcumin, BDL + quercetin, BDL + atorvastatin and treated for four weeks via oral gavage. The expression of miR-21, miR-122, and TGFβ1 was evaluated via RT-qPCR. The expression levels of TGFβ1 and miR-21 were significantly increased in the BDL group compared to the Sham group (P < 0.05), but the expression of miR-122 was significantly decreased in the BDL group compared to the Sham group (P < 0.05). Curcumin, quercetin, and atorvastatin treatment lead to down-regulation of miR-21 and TGFβ1 and up-regulation of miR-122 in the BDL groups. There was no significant difference between these drugs in altering gene expression and all had the same effects. Moreover, a direct significant correlation was observed between mir-21 and TGFβ1 and an inverse significant correlation between mir-122 and TGFβ1 expression. In summary, targeting these molecular pathways may partially prevent the progression of liver fibrosis.