Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the involvement of hsa_circ_0074763 in the activation of HSCs (hepatic stellate cells ) and liver fibrosis. Additionally, it aimed to conduct a preliminary analysis of the molecular mechanism targeting miR-3667-3p/ACSL4 (Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4), the...

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Main Authors: Yanling Cheng, Tiantian Song, Jiachen Yao, Qirong Wang, Chunyan Meng, Fumin Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91393-2
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author Yanling Cheng
Tiantian Song
Jiachen Yao
Qirong Wang
Chunyan Meng
Fumin Feng
author_facet Yanling Cheng
Tiantian Song
Jiachen Yao
Qirong Wang
Chunyan Meng
Fumin Feng
author_sort Yanling Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to investigate the involvement of hsa_circ_0074763 in the activation of HSCs (hepatic stellate cells ) and liver fibrosis. Additionally, it aimed to conduct a preliminary analysis of the molecular mechanism targeting miR-3667-3p/ACSL4 (Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4), thereby providing novel molecular targets for liver fibrosis. The GEO database was utilized to identify differentially expressed hsa_circ_0074763 and determined its subcellular localization in LX-2 cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Bioinformatics analysis was employed for result prediction, and the interaction between hsa_circ_0074763 and miR-3667-3P was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. ACSL4 mediated ferroptosis was detected with kit. Hsa_circ_0074763 exhibits high expression levels in the fibrosis model. Validation through dual-luciferase reporter gene assays confirms the interaction between hsa_circ_0074763 and miR-3667-3P. Functional cell experiments demonstrate that overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 promotes proliferation of LX-2 cells, elevates inflammation levels, and inhibits apoptosis. Additionally, ACSL4 has been identified as a direct target of miR-3667-3P, with overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 counteracting the inhibitory effect on ACSL4 by suppressing miR-3667-3P. Overexpression of ACSL4 increased the expression levels of ROS (Lipid Oxidation), Iron (Ferro Orange) and MDA (Malondialdehyde), and decreased the expression levels of GPX4 (Glutathione peroxidase 4) and GSH (Glutathione). Our finding suggests that overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 likely enhances the HSC activation through modulation of the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis. Therefore, hsa_circ_0074763 holds potential as a therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
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spelling doaj-art-dbbc68c65ec44e7dafbf8fdb53dc89842025-08-20T03:40:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-91393-2Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosisYanling Cheng0Tiantian Song1Jiachen Yao2Qirong Wang3Chunyan Meng4Fumin Feng5School of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, North China University of Science and TechnologyAbstract This study aimed to investigate the involvement of hsa_circ_0074763 in the activation of HSCs (hepatic stellate cells ) and liver fibrosis. Additionally, it aimed to conduct a preliminary analysis of the molecular mechanism targeting miR-3667-3p/ACSL4 (Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4), thereby providing novel molecular targets for liver fibrosis. The GEO database was utilized to identify differentially expressed hsa_circ_0074763 and determined its subcellular localization in LX-2 cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Bioinformatics analysis was employed for result prediction, and the interaction between hsa_circ_0074763 and miR-3667-3P was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. ACSL4 mediated ferroptosis was detected with kit. Hsa_circ_0074763 exhibits high expression levels in the fibrosis model. Validation through dual-luciferase reporter gene assays confirms the interaction between hsa_circ_0074763 and miR-3667-3P. Functional cell experiments demonstrate that overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 promotes proliferation of LX-2 cells, elevates inflammation levels, and inhibits apoptosis. Additionally, ACSL4 has been identified as a direct target of miR-3667-3P, with overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 counteracting the inhibitory effect on ACSL4 by suppressing miR-3667-3P. Overexpression of ACSL4 increased the expression levels of ROS (Lipid Oxidation), Iron (Ferro Orange) and MDA (Malondialdehyde), and decreased the expression levels of GPX4 (Glutathione peroxidase 4) and GSH (Glutathione). Our finding suggests that overexpression of hsa_circ_0074763 likely enhances the HSC activation through modulation of the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis. Therefore, hsa_circ_0074763 holds potential as a therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91393-2CircRNAMiRNALiver fibrosisFerroptosis
spellingShingle Yanling Cheng
Tiantian Song
Jiachen Yao
Qirong Wang
Chunyan Meng
Fumin Feng
Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
Scientific Reports
CircRNA
MiRNA
Liver fibrosis
Ferroptosis
title Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
title_full Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
title_fullStr Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
title_short Study on the mechanism of hsa_circ_0074763 regulating the miR-3667-3P/ACSL4 axis in liver fibrosis
title_sort study on the mechanism of hsa circ 0074763 regulating the mir 3667 3p acsl4 axis in liver fibrosis
topic CircRNA
MiRNA
Liver fibrosis
Ferroptosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91393-2
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