Altered miRNA expression in liver and serum of NASH mice

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a fatty liver disease that does not involve alcohol consumption and is characterized by fatty degeneration, inflammation, and hepatocellular damage. Therefore, predicting future fibrosis is necessary in the early stages of NASH to prevent developing diseases. This study examined histological changes in the liver as well as microRNA expression changes in the liver and serum of NASH mice model to search for potential biomarker candidates that may predict early fibrosis. This study used 6-week-old C57BL/6NJcl male mice and fed the control and NASH groups with a food-breeding solid diet (CE-2) and a high-fat diet (choline-deficient high-fat and 0.1% [w/v] methionine supplemented diet), respectively. We used Agilent Technologies miRNA microarray to examine microRNA expression in the liver and serum. We purchased 5-week-old C57BL/6NJcl male mice from Clea Japan. Treatment was initiated after a 1-week acclimatization. The NASH model group was fed a choline-deficient high-fat (CDAHFD) and 0.1% (w/v) methionine-supplemented diet (Research Diets Inc., A06071302). The Control group was fed a solid diet CE-2 (Clea Japan). Both groups received feed and water ad libitum, which were replaced once a week. Blood and livers were removed from mice at 1, 2, and 6 weeks after ingestion of the high-fat diet or food-breeding solid diet, and miRNA expression was examined by miRNA microarray.