Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) acts as an antifibrotic mediator by prominent miRNA-29 induction

Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, inhibiting gene expression by targeting the 3´untranslated region (3´-UTR) of transcripts. Previously, we have shown by miRNA expression profiling that miR-29a/b are differentially expressed after fibrogenesis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the major extracellular matrix (ECM) producing cells and furthermore they are involved in profibrogenic cytokine production such as transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-β). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), however, is known to exert antifibrotic activities, acting as an antagonist of TGF-β. In the present study, we now studied the influence of HGF on the expression of miR-29 and the regulation of extracellular matrix production by miR-29.