Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of MiR-423-5p expression on the severity of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury, inflammatory response and immune function in mice

Junlan Yang, Ning Xing, Ling Dong

Medical Laboratories, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xian, China;

For correspondence:- Ling Dong Email: ling.21@qq.com Tel:+86013389209385

Accepted: 31 March 2022 Published: 30 April 2022

Citation: Yang J, Xing N, Dong L. Effect of MiR-423-5p expression on the severity of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury, inflammatory response and immune function in mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(4):761-767 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i4.12

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the biological functions of miR-423-5p in a mouse model with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury.

Methods: Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into control group (n = 20), LPS group (n = 20) and LPS + miR-423-5p mimic group (n = 20). The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-associated proteins in the liver tissues were determined. Finally, the survival of mice was recorded within 7 days after the injection of LPS.

Results: Overexpression of miR-423-5p improved the liver function of septic mice, and decreased the content of ALT, AST and LDH. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-423-5p also lowered the levels of the oxidative stress markers 4-HNE and MDA, and raised the content of anti-oxidative enzymes SOD and GSH-Px in the liver tissues of septic mice (p < 0.05). The levels of inflammation and apoptosis in the liver of mice in LPS + miR-423-4p mimic group were lower than those in the LPS group (p < 0.05). The overexpression of miR-432-5p increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen of septic mice (p < 0.05), thereby reducing immunosuppression.

Conclusion: The expression of miR-423-5p is low in septic mice with liver injury, but its overexpression alleviates acute liver injury and inflammatory responses, and also enhances immune function in mice. Therefore, it has the potential to serve as a targeted drug for the management of liver injury.

Keywords: Liver injury, Lipopolysaccharide, miR-423-5p, Inflammation, Immunosuppression