MicroRNA array analysis during the regenerative peak following rat liver resection

The liver has the unique capacity to regenerate after surgical resection. However, the regulation of liver regeneration is not completely understood. We performed miRNA microarray analyses of liver tissue from Wistar rats at different time points after 70% partial hepatectomy (0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, and 5 days) and after sham laparotomy (12, 24, and 48 hours). We demonstrate that miRNA expression patterns changed during liver regeneration and that these changes were most evident during the peak of DNA replication at 24 hours after resection. Expression of 13 miRNAs, including five members of the let-7 family, was significantly reduced 12-48 hours after resection, whereas 3 miRNAs were significantly upregulated (> 25% change). We provide a temporal miRNA expression dataset of the regenerating rat liver, which indicates a primary function for miRNA during the peak of DNA replication. These data will assist further functional studies on the role of miRNAs during liver regeneration.肝脏在外科切除术后具备独特的再生能力，但目前学界尚未完全阐明肝脏再生的调控机制。本研究对经70%部分肝切除术（术后0、2、6、12、24、48小时及5天）以及假剖腹手术（术后12、24、48小时）处理的Wistar大鼠肝组织，开展了微小RNA（miRNA）芯片分析。研究证实，肝脏再生过程中miRNA的表达模式发生显著改变，且此类变化在肝切除术后24小时的DNA复制峰值期最为明显。术后12至48小时期间，包括let-7家族5个成员在内的13种miRNA的表达量显著下调，另有3种miRNA的表达量显著上调（变化幅度超过25%）。本研究提供了再生大鼠肝脏的时序性miRNA表达数据集，该数据表明miRNA在DNA复制峰值期发挥核心功能。上述数据将为后续探究miRNA在肝脏再生过程中的作用提供重要支撑。