Figure 1.
PA promoted the release of exosomal miR-27a from HCs and affected activated HSCs
(A) Trend analysis of miR-27a expression in serum or liver tissues of MAFLD patients (MLF and ALF groups, each group n = 8). (B) AUROC of serum miR27a for ALF diagnosis is shown. (C) Exosomal miR-27a expression was examined in the serum of MAFLD patients (F0S0-2, F3+NASH, and F3+S3-4 groups, each group n = 3) and mice (LFD, HFD, and HFD + CCl4 groups, each group n = 3). (D) Exosomal and cellular miR-27a expression was examined in PHCs or LO2 cells (CN, PA200 μM, and PA400 μM groups). (E) Representative images of PKH26-labeled Exo-PA taken up by primary liver cells (1- or 7-day-cultured PHSCs and PKCs) are shown. The relative IF intensity in each type of cell was normalized to the cell number. Scale bar, 25 μm. (F) miR27a expression was assessed in activated LX2 cells incubated with 25–200 μg Exo-PA or 25 μg Exo-CN isolated from LO2 cells. (G) miR27a expression was detected in activated LX2 cells incubated with Exo-PA or Exo-CN isolated from LO2 cells transfected with miR-27a inhibitor or its negative control (LO2 in-NC or LO2 in-miR groups). All quantifications are presented as the mean ± SD, and p values were calculated using an unpaired Student's t test (A, B, D, E, and G) (for comparison between two groups) or one-way ANOVA followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls analysis (C and F) (for comparison of multiple groups). Statistical significance: ∗p < 0.05, compared with (A) MAFLD-MLF group, (C) F0S0-2 patients or LFD mice, (D) CN group, (E) PHC group, (F) CN group, (G) or Exo-CN of LO2 in-NC group; #p < 0.05, compared with (C) F3+NASH patients or HFD mice, (F) Exo-CN 25 μg-treated cells.