Dynamic Alterations to Hepatic MicroRNA-29a in Response to Long-Term High-Fat Diet and EtOH Feeding

MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) is a well characterized fibro-inflammatory molecule and its aberrant expression linked to variety of pathological liver conditions. The long-term effects high-fat diet (HFD) in combination with different levels EtOH consumption on miR-29a pathobiology are unknown. Mice at 8 weeks age were divided into five groups (calorie-matched plus water (CMD) as control group, HFD disease 2% (HFD + E), 10% E, 20% E intervention groups) fed for 4, 13, 26, or 39 weeks. At each time point, analyses performed weight/body weight (BW) ratio, AST/ALT histology assessments, which included inflammation, estimated fat deposition, lipid area, fibrosis. Hepatic was measured correlations phenotypic traits determined. Four-week feeding produced no differences between the all collected expression, while significant observed after 13 weeks, concentration-specific induction miR-29a. A turning point most apparent 26 significantly down-regulated increasing injury. Overall, up-regulation associated lower liver/BW fibrosis, suggesting protective role against progression. concentrations produces progressive adverse liver, evidence beneficial low-dose consumption. Moreover, less severe