Arsenicosis induced by chronic exposure to arsenic is recognized as one of the main damaging effects on public health. Exposure to arsenic can cause hepatic fibrosis, but the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are complex and elusive. It is not known if miRNAs are involved in arsenic-induced liver fibrosis. We found that in the livers of mice exposed to arsenite, there were elevated levels of microRNA-21 (miR-21), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and arginase 1 (Arg1); low levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); and more extensive liver fibrosis. For cultured cells, arsenite-induced miR-21, p-mTOR, and Arg1; decreased PTEN; and promoted M2 polarization of macrophages derived from THP-1 monocytes (THP-M), which caused secretion of fibrogenic cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β1. Coculture of arsenite-treated, THP-M with LX-2 cells induced α-SMA and collagen I in the LX-2 cells and resulted in the activation of these cells. Downregulation of miR-21 in THP-M inhibited arsenite-induced M2 polarization and activation of LX-2 cells, but cotransfection with PTEN siRNA or a miR-21 inhibitor reversed this inhibition. Moreover, knockout of miR-21 in mice attenuated liver fibrosis and M2 polarization compared with WT mice exposed to arsenite. Additionally, LN, PCIII, and HA levels were higher in patients with higher hair arsenic levels, and levels of miR-21 were higher than controls and positively correlated with PCIII, LN, and HA levels. Thus, arsenite induces the M2 polarization of macrophages via miR-21 regulation of PTEN, which is involved in the activation of hepatic stellate cells and hepatic fibrosis. The results establish a previously unknown mechanism for arsenicosis-induced fibrosis.
Keywords: arsenicosis; hepatic fibrosis; miR-21; polarization of macrophages.
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