Objective To explore the regulatory effect of miR-223/FOS-like antigen 2 (Fosl2)/neutrophil granule protein (NGP) pathways on liver fibrosis in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods A total of 60 mice were randomly divided into normal group, methionine choline deficiency (MCD) group, MCD+miR-NC group and MCD+miR-223 mimic group, with 15 cases in each group. The normal group was given common feed, while the other groups were given MCD feed. The levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and collagen type Ⅳ(Ⅳ-C) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The levels of miR-223 and Fosl2 mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed. The levels of Fosl2 and NGP in liver tissues were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, the expression level of miR-223 increased, while the expression level of Fosl2 decreased in MCD+miR-223 mimic group (P<0.05). Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, the hepatocyte vacuolation was reduced, and hepatocyte hypertrophy was relieved in MCD+miR-223 mimic group. Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, the levels of TC, TG, ALT and AST decreased in MCD+miR-223 mimic group (P<0.05). Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, lipid droplets were reduced in MCD+miR-223 mimic group (P<0.05). Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, the levels of HA, LN and Ⅳ-C decreased in MCD+miR-223 mimic group (P<0.05). Compared with MCD group and MCD+miR-NC group, Fosl2 level decreased, while NGP level increased in MCD+miR-223 mimic group (P<0.05). Conclusion The miR-223 may relieve liver fibrosis in NASH mice by regulating Fosl2/NGP pathways. |