Chronic exposure to ethanol alters the expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 in alcoholic liver disease in an adult zebrafish model

• Published in: Biomarkers Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 146 - 151
• Main Authors: Pasqualotto, Amanda, Ayres, Raquel, Longo, Larisse, Del Duca Lima, Diego, Losch de Oliveira, Diogo, Alvares-da-Silva, Mário Reis, Reverbel da Silveira, Themis, Uribe-Cruz, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 17-02-2021
• Subjects: Alcoholic liver disease; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Ethanol; Ethanol - pharmacology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Interleukin-10 - genetics; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-1beta - genetics; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - genetics; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - metabolism; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - pathology; Male; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miR-122; miR-155; miR-217; Triglycerides - metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Zebrafish; Zebrafish; Ethanol; miR-217; miR-122; miR-155; Alcoholic liver disease
• ISSN: 1354-750X; 1366-5804
• DOI: 10.1080/1354750X.2021.1874051

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic and circulating expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 in a model of chronic exposure to ethanol in adult zebrafish.
Wild-type adult zebrafish were divided into two groups (n = 281): an EG (exposed to 0.5% v/v Ethanol in aquarium water) and a CG (without ethanol). After 28 days the animals were euthanized, followed by histopathological analysis, quantification of lipids, triglycerides and inflammatory cytokines in liver tissue. miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217 gene expression was quantified in liver tissue and serum.
We observed hepatic lesions and increased accumulation of hepatic lipids in the EG. The expression of il-1β was higher in the EG, but there were no differences in il-10 and tnf-α between groups. In the liver, expression of miR-122 and miR-155 was higher in the EG. The circulating expression of miR-155 and miR-217 was significantly higher in the EG.
Chronic exposure to ethanol in zebrafish leads to altered hepatic and circulating expression of miR-155, miR-122 and miR-217. This confirms its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.