Circ_0057558 promotes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating ROCK1/AMPK signaling through targeting miR-206.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent chronic liver disorders that is featured by the extensive deposition of fat in the hepatocytes. Current treatments are very limited due to its unclear pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the function of circ_0057558 and miR-206 in NAFLD. High-fat diet (HFD) feeding mouse was used as an in vivo NAFLD model and long-chain-free fatty acid (FFA)-treated liver cells were used as an in vitro NAFLD model. qRT-PCR was used to measure levels of miR-206, ROCK1 mRNA, and circ_0057558, while Western blotting was employed to determine protein levels of ROCK1, p-AMPK, AMPK, and lipogenesis-related proteins. Immunohistochemistry were performed to examine ROCK1 level. Oil-Red O staining was used to assess the lipid deposition in cells. ELISA was performed to examine secreted triglyceride (TG) level. Dual-luciferase assay was used to validate interactions of miR-206/ROCK1 and circ_0057558/miR-206. RNA immunoprecipitation was employed to confirm the binding of circ_0057558 with miR-206. Circ_0057558 was elevated while miR-206 was reduced in both in vivo and in vitro NAFLD models. miR-206 directly bound with ROCK1 3'-UTR and suppressed lipogenesis and TG secretion through targeting ROCK1/AMPK signaling. Circ_0057558 directly interacted with miR-206 to disinhibit ROCK1/AMPK signaling. Knockdown of circ_0057558 or overexpression of miR-206 inhibited lipogenesis, TG secretion and expression of lipogenesis-related proteins. ROCK1 knockdown reversed the effects of circ_0057558 overexpression. Injection of miR-206 mimics significantly ameliorated NAFLD progression in vivo. Circ_0057558 acts as a miR-206 sponge to de-repress the ROCK1/AMPK signaling and facilitates lipogenesis and TG secretion, which greatly contributes to NAFLD development and progression.

[Adenovirus pneumonia with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children: a clinical analysis of 7 children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of children with adenovirus pneumonia and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the mediacal data of 7 children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH from March to September, 2019. RESULTS: The age of these children ranged from 11 months to 5 years, and among these children, 5 were aged <2 years and 5 were boys. None of these children had underlying diseases. All children were hospitalized due to persistent high fever and cough, and the peak temperature of fever was 39°C to 41°C. With disease progression, 7 children developed hepatomegaly and 6 developed splenomegaly. Routine blood test results showed reductions in two or three lineages of blood cells, with increases in serum ferritin (SF), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Phagocytosis of blood cells was observed in 6 children. Radiological examination of lungs showed pneumonia changes. All 7 children were diagnosed with human adenovirus type 7 infection based on pathogenic metagenome detection. No abnormality was found by HLH gene detection and the children were diagnosed with secondary HLH. All children received intravenous immunoglobulin. Among these children, 4 received dexamethasone and etoposide chemotherapy, 3 received dexamethasone alone, and 4 received plasma exchange. Of the 7 children, 2 died and 5 were recovered. Compared with those who survived, the children who died had significantly greater reductions in the three lineages of blood cells and significantly greater increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH. CONCLUSIONS: The children with adenovirus pneumonia and HLH have main clinical features of persistent high fever, progressive reductions in two or three lineages of peripheral blood cells, and involvement of other organ systems, including hepatosplenomegaly. Significant increases in serum levels of CRP, PCT, SF, and LDH may suggest a poor prognosis.

LncRNA NEAT1 promotes hepatic lipid accumulation via regulating miR-146a-5p/ROCK1 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a severe liver disease, which influences the health of people worldwide. However, the specific mechanism of the disease remains unknown, and effective treatments are still lacking. It was reported that Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) obviously was up-regulated in NAFLD model. But the role and underlying mechanism of NEAT1 in NAFLD is unclear. METHODS: HepG2 cells were treated by free fatty acids (FFA) and C57BL/6J mice were treated by high-fat diet to establish NAFLD in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. Cell transfection was applied to regulate the expression of NEAT1, ROCK1, and miR-146a-5p. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used for measuring expression of protein and mRNA level, respectively. Dual luciferase assay was used to detect the target relationship. Oil Red O staining was used to measure the lipid accumulation. HE staining was used for observing pathological feature of liver tissues. RESULTS: High levels of NEAT1 and ROCK1, and low level of miR-146a-5p were identified in NAFLD models. NEAT1 could target miR-146a-5p to promote ROCK1 expression. Knockdown of NEAT1, overexpression of miR-146a-5p and knockdown of ROCK1 inhibited lipid accumulation through activating AMPK pathway. CONCLUSION: NEAT1 may regulate NAFLD through miR-146a-5p targeting ROCK1, and further affect AMPK/SREBP pathway. This study may provide a new thought for the treatment of NAFLD.