Tadehaginoside improves liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells mediated by the molecular axis of miR-155/FOXO3

To analyze tadehaginoside (TA) for its effect on liver fibrosis and the associated mechanism. Mice with CCl4-mediated liver fibrosis were administered TA treatment for 6 weeks. Histopathological alterations in liver tissues were evaluated, and serum markers of hepatic injury, as well as the hepatic profibrotic gene and protein levels were detected. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was adopted for inducing LX-2 cells. Following a 24-h TA intervention, we assessed pro-fibrotic gene and protein activation, proliferation and levels of TGF-β1-activated LX-2 cells. miR-155 and FOXO3 expressions were quantified in mice liver tissues and cells. The targeting relation of miR-155 with FOXO3 was verified. After regulating miR-155 and FOXO3 expression, the function of TA in cell activation, proliferation, and collagen accumulation was evaluated. The results indicated that TA treatment markedly alleviated CCl4-mediated mouse liver injury, inhibited collagen fiber deposition, and downregulated the hepatic pro-fibrotic gene and protein levels. Additionally, TA treatment suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell activation and proliferation, thus significantly reducing pro-fibrotic marker levels within cells. Furthermore, treatment with TA down-regulated miR-155 and up-regulated FOXO3 within CCl4-induced liver tissues as well as TGF-β1-induced cells. However, miR-155 overexpression or FOXO3 silencing partially mitigated the inhibition of TA against TGF-β1-mediated activation, proliferation, and fibrosis in cells. In conclusion, TA inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) via miR-155/FOXO3 axis, thereby exerting its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect.