MicroRNA-194 inactivates hepatic stellate cells and alleviates liver fibrosis by inhibiting AKT2

Figure 1 MiR-194 is downregulated in activated hepatic stellate cells from humans and mice. A: Heatmaps of the microRNA microarray analysis results in the liver of CHB patients; B: The expression of miR-194 measured by qPCR in the liver of CHB patients; C: Morphological and IF images of q-pHSC/a-pHSC. Bar = 100 μm; D: The expression of miR-194 determined by qPCR in pHSCs; E: The expression of miR-194 determined by qPCR in LX2 cells; F: H&E and Sirius Red staining images used to evaluate liver inflammation and fibrosis in CCl₄-treated mice. Bar = 100 μm; G: The expression of miR-194 measured by qPCR in liver tissue; H: The expression of miR-194 measured by qPCR in pHSCs isolated from oil- and CCl₄-treated mice. ^aP < 0.05 vs the S0 group; ^bP < 0.05 vs the q-HSC group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the con group; ^dP < 0.05 vs the Oil group. CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; pHSCs: Primary hepatic stellate cells; H&E: Hematoxylin and eosin; CCl₄: Carbon tetrachloride.