Involvement of miR-199a downregulation in the preventive effects of Jianpi Jiedu Recipe against experimental hepatocarcinoma in rats

Abstract

AIM:To investigate the preventive effects of Jianpi Jiedu Recipe against diethylnitrosamineinduced hepatocarcinoma in rats and explore the involvement of miR-199a downregulation in this process.divided into three groups:normal control group (n=25),model group (n=40) and prevention group (n=40).The normal control group was given normal saline [10 mL/(kg?d) ig] for 12 weeks,the model group was given diethylnitrosamine dissolved in drinking water (80 ppm) at a dose of 8 mg/(kg?d) for the same duration,and the prevention group was given both diethylnitrosamine at the same dose and Jianpi Jiedu Recipe [17.5 g/(kg?d),ig] for the same duration.Five rats in each group were executed at weeks 4,8,12 and 16,respectively,and the remaining rats were killed at week 20.Meanwhile,the mortality,incidence of ascites,and liver and spleen index were measured.Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) was used to examine hepatic pathological changes.The expression of miR-199a mRNA was detected by real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).RESULTS:At week 20,the mortality rate and the incidence rate of ascites were 0% and 0% in the normal control group,42.5% and 87.5% in the model group,and 17.5% and 44.4% in the prevention group,respectively.The mortality rate and the incidence of ascites were significantly lower in the prevention group than in the model group (both P 0.05).At week 16,the incidence of HCC was 100% in both the model group and prevention group and 0% in the normal control group,the incidence of grade III liver cancer was 100% (5/5) in the model group,and the incidences of grade I,II and III liver cancer were 40% (2/5),40% (2/5) and 20% (1/5) in the prevention group,respectively.Compared with the model group,the liver and spleen index in the prevention group were significantly reduced at all time points (all P 0.01).Real-time RT-PCR results showed that the expression of miR-199a was significantly upregulated in the model group.However,miR-199a expression was significantly downregulated in the prevention group at all time points except at week 16 (all P 0.01).CONCLUSION:Jianpi Jiedu Recipe has good preventive effects against hepatocarcinoma in rats perhaps partly by downregulating miR-199a expression.