Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran Archives of Iranian Medicine 1029-2977 20 3 2017 03 01 Two Triacylglycerol Pathway Genes, CTDNEP1 and LPIN1, are Down-Regulated by hsa-miR-122-5p in Hepatocytes 0 0 EN Mahmood Naderi Abdolreza Pazouki Ehsan Arefian Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Fatemeh Jamshidi-Adegani Omid Gholamalamdari Sara Soudi Kayhan Azadmanesh Siamak Mirab Samiee Shahin Merat Mohammad Gholami Fesharaki Mahdieh Mondanizadeh Mohammad Vasei Journal Article BACKGROUND: Expression of miR-122 is highly specific to hepatocytes of the liver. This miRNA is involved in lipid hemostasis of the tissue; however, there is no comprehensive understanding of its function in lipid hemostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since hepatocytes are responsible for part of Triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in the body, we hypothesized that miR-122, as the most abundant miRNA in the tissue, might regulate TAG metabolism by targeting key enzymes that are involved in its production pathway. A systematic computational analysis of putative targets of miR-122 identified CTDNEP1 and LPIN1 genes in the TAG pathway. We used dual-luciferase reporter assay, quantitative RT-PCR as well as western blot to confirm the repressive effect of miR-122 on CTDNEP1 and LPIN1 in TAG pathway. RESULTS: Real time PCR on liver needle biopsies with hepatosteatosis showed that miR-122 is up-regulated in hepatosteatosis. Surprisingly, the protein and RNA level of identified targets of miR-122 are also up-regulated in clinical samples, probably as a disproportionate feedback response to the high level of miR-122. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that up-regulation of miR-122 can trigger the compensatory response of LPIN1 and CTDNEP1 in hepatosteatosis.