TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and miRNA regulation in liver fibrosis. Tissue fibrosis intricately links with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, can suppress or promote the translation of target genes involved in fibrogenic processes. Within adipose tissue, their regulation of pathways such as TGF-β/Smad, PI3K/AKT, and PPAR-γ plays a pivotal role in determining the balance between healthy tissue maintenance and pathological fibrosis. Specific miRNAs such as miR-122, miR-140, miR-150, miR-30b, and miR-155 demonstrate diverse functions, from blocking collagen synthesis to preventing the conversion of adipogenic cells into fibrogenic ones.
Of particular interest is the therapeutic application of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) transfected with targeted miRNAs. These engineered cells produce a secretome—a vesicle-rich fluid carrying anti-fibrotic miRNAs—that can be delivered to affected tissues without triggering immune rejection. This approach enables precise molecular intervention, targeting key proteins like Smad3, PDGFR-β, Runx1, and PPAR-γ, which are central to fibrosis development.
The review also draws attention to miRNAs’ systemic impact, noting how alterations in adipose tissue can influence fibrosis in distant organs, including the liver, heart, and kidneys. For example, miR-410-5p, elevated in high-fat diet-induced obesity, enhances fibrosis by downregulating protective factors like Smad7 in cardiac tissue. Conversely, restoring miR-140 or delivering miR-30b can mitigate these fibrotic responses.
Ultimately, the findings underscore the potential of miRNA-based therapies as a non-invasive, targeted strategy to combat fibrosis in both adipose tissue and other organs.
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Reference
Mei Tian, Yang Zhou, Yitong Guo, Qing Xia, Zehua Wang, Xinying Zheng, Jinze Shen, Junping Guo, Shiwei Duan, Lijun Wang, MicroRNAs in adipose tissue fibrosis: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential, Genes & Diseases, Volume 12, Issue 4, 2025, 101287, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2024.101287
Funding Information:
Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China LTGD24H070006
Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China LTGD23H150001
Medical and Health Research Project of Zhejiang Province, China 2023KY212
Medical and Health Research Project of Zhejiang Province, China 2024KY631
Zhejiang Province Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (China) 2024ZL249
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