In all, 38 miRNAs were identified to be upregulated and 31 downregulated, in TGFβ1-stimulated HTFs. Among those, the miR-29b, downregulated in TGFβ1-treated HTFs, targeted a cadre of mRNAs that encode proteins involved in fibrosis, including PI3Kp85α, Sp1, and collagen type I alpha1 (Col1A1). Treatment of HTFs with TGFβ1 activated the PI3K/Akt/Sp1 pathway and, consequently, induced an increase in the expression of type I collagen. Overexpression of miR-29b inhibited the PI3K/Akt/Sp1 pathway, and attenuated the expression of Col1A1. CONCLUSIONS. miR-29b acted as a suppressor of type I collagen gene by repressing the PI3K/Akt/Sp1 pathway in HTFs. Overexpression of miR-29b protected subconjunctival tissues against collagen production and fibrosis. These findings provided a novel rationale for the development of miRNA-based strategies for attenuating scar formation after glaucoma filtering surgery.

Via intravitreal transplantation, the hUCBSCs resulted in a significant increase in the survival of the RGCs, and improved pathological changes in the rat retina, following TON. The protective mechanism is correlated with the continuous secretion of BDNF and GDNF in vivo of retina in optic nerve injury rats by the transplanted hUCBSCs.

Previous studies showed that CD4+T cells responses might be involved in the process of biliary fibrosis. However, the underlying mechanism resulting in biliary fibrosis caused by Clonorchis sinensis remains not yet fully elucidated. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the different profiles of hepatic CD4+T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells) and their possible roles in the biliary fibrosis of different strains of mice (C57BL/6, BALB/c and FVB mice) induced by C. sinensis infection. C57BL/6, BALB/c and FVB mice were orally gavaged with 45 metacercariae. All mice were sacrificed on 28 days post infection in deep anesthesia conditions. The leukocytes in the liver were separated to examine CD4+T cell subsets by flow cytometry and the left lobe of liver was used to observe pathological changes, collagen depositions and the concentrations of hydroxyproline. The most serious cystic and fibrotic changes appeared in FVB infected mice indicated by gross observation, Masson’s trichrome staining and hydroxyproline content detection. In contrast to C57BL/6 infected mice, diffuse nodules and more intensive fibrosis were observed in the BALB/c infected mice. No differences of the hepatic Th1 subset and Th17 subset were found among the three strains, but the hepatic Th2 and Treg cells and their relative cytokines were dramatically increased in the BALB/c and FVB infected groups compared with the C57BL/6 infected group (P<0.01). Importantly, increased Th2 subset and Treg subset all positively correlated with hydroxyproline contents (P<0.01). This result for the first time implied that the increased hepatic Th2 and Treg cell subsets were likely to play potential roles in the formation of biliary fibrosis in C. sinensis-infected mice.

Pathogen-associated biliary fibrosis (PABF) is a type of liver fibrosis characterized by injuries of cholangiocytes and extra cellular matrix (ECM) deposition around bile ducts caused by various bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. Recent studies show that TLR4 plays an important role in several other types of liver fibrosis, but the mechanism of TLR4 in PABF is yet really unclear. In the present study, a PABF mouse model was established by a trematode infection-Clonorchis sinensis which dwells in the bile ducts and causes severe biliary fibrosis of mice. The results showed that the levels of collagen depositions, α-SMA and hydroxyproline (Hyp) contents in TLR4mut mice infected by C. sinensis were significantly lower than in those of TLR4wild ones. Furthermore, we found that the activation of TGF-β signaling was impaired in the TLR4mut mice, compared with wild mice when they were challenged to the same dose of C. sinensis metacercariae. Moreover, the mice with TLR4 mutation showed a decreased activation of hepatic stellate cells indicated by the expression of α-SMA, when compared with TLR4wild mice. These data demonstrate that TLR4 contributes to PABF caused by C. sinensis and TLR4 signaling may be a potential medical target for treatment of PABF.