MicroRNA-21 Mediates Angiotensin II-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Activating NLRP3 Inflammasome/IL-1β Axis via Targeting Smad7 and Spry1

Aims: Angiotensin II (AngII), a vasoconstrictive peptide of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), promotes hepatic fibrogenesis and induces microRNA-21(mir-21) expression. Angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] is a peptide of the RAS, which attenuates liver fibrosis. Recently, it was reported that the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome participated in liver fibrosis. However, it remains unclear how mir-21 mediates AngII-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. We investigate the role of AngII-induced mir-21 in the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β axis in liver fibrosis. Results: In vivo, circulating mir-21 was upregulated in patients with liver fibrosis and was positively correlated with liver fibrosis and oxidation. Treatment with Ang-(1–7) inhibited mir-21, NLRP3 inflammasome, and liver fibrosis after bile duct ligation (BDL) or AngII infusion. Inhibition of mir-21 suppressed the Smad7/Smad2/3/NOX4, Spry1/ERK/NF-κB pathway, NLRP3 inflammasome, and liver fibrosis induced by AngII infusion. In vitro, AngII upregulated mir-21 expression via targeting Smad7 and Spry1 in primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In contrast, Ang-(1–7) suppressed mir-21 expression and oxidation induced by AngII. Overexpression of mir-21 promoted oxidation, and collagen production enhanced the effect of AngII on NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the Spry1/ERK/NF-κB, Smad7/Smad2/3/NOX4 pathways. However, downregulation of mir-21 exerted the opposite effects. Innovation and Conclusions: Mir-21 mediates AngII-activated NLRP3 inflammasome and resultant HSC activation via targeting Spry1 and Smad7. Ang-(1–7) protected against BDL or AngII infusion-induced hepatic fibrosis and inhibited mir-21 expression. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 1–20.