biostudies-literatureSun HFoundation for the National Institutes of HealthUniversity of MinnesotaNational Institutes of Health101603https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9515436biostudies-literatureUnknown66<h4>Objective</h4>Obesity-associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver failure and death. However, the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its severe form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is poorly understood. The energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), has decreased activity in obesity and NAFLD, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we examined whether obesity-induced miR-802 has a role in promoting NASH by targeting AMPK. We also investigated whether miR-802 and AMPK have roles in modulating beneficial therapeutic effects mediated by obeticholic acid (OCA), a promising clinical agent for NASH.<h4>Methods</h4>Immunoblotting, luciferase assays, and RNA-protein interaction studies were performed to test whether miR-802 directly targets AMPK. The roMolecular metabolismObesity-induced miR-802 directly targets AMPK and promotes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.PMC9515436HHSN276201200017CDK095842DK062777Seok SJung HKemper BKemper JKSun HfalseObesity-induced miR-802 directly targets AMPK and promotes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice.<h4>Objective</h4>Obesity-associated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of liver failure and death. However, the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its severe form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is poorly understood. The energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), has decreased activity in obesity and NAFLD, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we examined whether obesity-induced miR-802 has a role in promoting NASH by targeting AMPK. We also investigated whether miR-802 and AMPK have roles in modulating beneficial therapeutic effects mediated by obeticholic acid (OCA), a promising clinical agent for NASH.<h4>Methods</h4>Immunoblotting, luciferase assays, and RNA-protein interaction studies were performed to test whether miR-802 directly targets AMPK. The ro2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-22T06:19:52.534Z2025-04-05T21:42:55.9ZS-EPMC95154363612689610.1016/j.molmet.2022.101603