Promoter regulation of the miR-29a/b1 gene by transforming growth factor-β in hepatic stellate cells and in hepatoma cells

Introduction: The members of the miR-29 family, targeting genes involved in apoptosis and gene methylation, are downregulated during hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) they inhibit extracellular matrix formation and are markedly reduced during fibrogenesis and after exposure to TGF-β. Since in both, liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis, TGF-β is a central mediator, we studied miR-29 promoter regulation by TGF-β in hepatic stellate and hepatoma cells as representative cell types for hepatic fibrosis and cancer. Methods: Primary and mature miR-29 transcripts were quantified in HSC…