Epigenetic regulation of miR-34a expression in alcoholic liver injury.

ABSTRACT: Epigenetic changes are associated with the regulation of transcription of key cell regulatory genes [micro RNAs (miRNAs)] during different types of liver injury. This study evaluated the role of methylation-associated miRNA, miR-34a, in alcoholic liver diseases. We identified that ethanol feeding for 4 weeks significantly up-regulated 0.8% of known miRNA compared with controls, including miR-34a. Treatment of normal human hepatocytes (N-Heps) and cholangiocytes [human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HiBECs)] with ethanol and lipopolysaccharide induced a significant increase of miR-34a expression. Overexpression of miR-34a decreased ethanol-induced apoptosis in both N-Heps and HiBECs. In support of the concept that the 5'-promoter region of miR-34a was noted to be embedded within a C

SUBMITTER: Meng F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3432440 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature