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Inhibition of hepatic fibrosis with artificial microRNA using ultrasound and cationic liposome-bearing microbubbles

Gene Therapy volume 20, pages 1140–1148 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

We sought to investigate the antifibrotic effects of an artificial microRNA (miRNA) targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) using the ultrasound-targeted cationic liposome-bearing microbubble destruction gene delivery system. Cationic liposomes were conjugated with microbubbles using a biotin–avidin system. Plasmids carrying the most effective artificial miRNA sequences were delivered by ultrasound-targeted cationic liposome-bearing microbubble destruction gene delivery system to rats with hepatic fibrosis. The results show that this method of gene delivery effectively transported the plasmids to the rat liver. The artificial miRNA reduced hepatic fibrosis pathological alterations as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of CTGF and transforming growth factor β1. Furthermore, the CTGF gene silencing decreased the levels of type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin (P<0.01). These data suggest that delivery of an artificial miRNA targeted against CTGF using ultrasound-targeted cationic liposome-bearing microbubble destruction may be an efficacious therapeutic method to ameliorate hepatic fibrosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 30970831 and No.30901389).

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Author notes

  1. D Yang and Y-H Gao: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ultrasound, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    D Yang, Y-H Gao, K-B Tan, Z-X Zuo, W-X Yang, P-J Li, Y Zhang & G Wang

  2. Department of Ultrasound, 324th Military Hospital, Chongqing, China

    D Yang

  3. Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    X Hua

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  1. D Yang
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Correspondence to K-B Tan.

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Yang, D., Gao, YH., Tan, KB. et al. Inhibition of hepatic fibrosis with artificial microRNA using ultrasound and cationic liposome-bearing microbubbles. Gene Ther 20, 1140–1148 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2013.41

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