- Academic Editor
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Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a popular
chronic liver disorder with high morbidity and with no approved therapeutic
drugs. Fibrosis is a crucial drug efficacy indicator for NAFLD. Thus,
investigating the mechanisms of NAFLD-associated fibrosis and exploring effective
therapeutic targets is imperative. Methods: Gerbil NAFLD-associated
fibrosis model was constructed by feeding a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.
The hematoxylin and eosin staining and the alanine transaminase (ALT) and
aspartate transaminase (AST) assays were used to determine liver tissue injury.
Masson staining and hydroxyproline (Hyp) level determination were used to assess
liver fibrosis. High-throughput mRNA sequencing was used to screen differentially
expressed genes in the NAFLD-associated fibrosis model. Cell Counting Kit-8 was
utilized to test cell viability. Results: Liver injury and fibrosis were
observed in the gerbil NAFLD-associated fibrosis model with increased ALT, AST,
and Hyp levels. The screened differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched
in “negative regulation of hemopoiesis”, “response to interleukin-1”, and
“granulocyte migration”. Zinc Finger and BTB Domain Containing
14 (Zbtb14) was upregulated in liver tissues of the gerbil NAFLD-associated
fibrosis model, patients with liver fibrosis, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).
Additionally, Zbtb14 regulated primary HSCs activation via the
