Gene expression analysis of mouse liver after bile duct ligation (BDL) treated or not with anti-miR-873

Background & Aims. Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is an essential regulator of the total transmethylation flux in the mammalian liver. Distinct DNA methylation patterns are characteristic of liver development, hepatic de-differentiation and liver disease progression, processes in which the levels of GNMT decrease dramatically by mechanisms still poorly understood. Interestingly, putative binding sites for the microRNA miRNA-873-5p were identified in the 3´UTR of GNMT suggesting a potential role for miRNA-873-5p in GNMT regulation. Results. We have identified that the hepatic expression of miRNA-873-5p was increased in a cohort of cirrhotic and liver cancer patients associated with a down-regulation of GNMT levels. Moreover, during liver development, hepatic de-differentiation and fibrosis, the elevation of miRNA-873-5p coincided with the reduction of GNMT expression, indicating that miRNA-873-5p specifically targets the expression of GNMT. Under these circumstances, inhibition of miRNA-873-5p induced GNMT levels and decreased global CpG methylation and transmethylation flux. Indeed, reestablishment of GNMT expression by miRNA-873-5p inhibition reduced hepatocyte de-differentiation, and abolished completely the mortality produced after bile duct ligation as a result of decreased proinflamatory and profibrogenic markers. miRNA-873-5p knockdown-mediated antifibrotic effect was significantly blunted if its effect on GNMT was blocked. Conclusion. Taken together, our studies highlight the role of miRNA-873-5p as a key regulator of GNMT expression, paving the way for new therapeutical approaches in liver de-differentiation and fibrosis. Genome-wide changes in gene Expression in mouse livers from BDL treated or not with anti-miR-873 were generated by RNAseq.