CircRNA_001373 promotes liver fibrosis by regulating autophagy activation in hepatic stellate cells via the miR-142a-5p/Becn1 axis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory role and underlying mechanisms of circRNA_001373 in the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of circRNA_001373, miR-142a-5p and Becn1. The viability of JS-1 cells was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8. The targeting relationship between miR-142a-5p and CircRNA_001373, as well as between miR-142a-5p and Becn1 was predicted using CircInteractome and TargetScan databases, respectively, and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was utilized to determine the expression levels of proteins related to autophagy and the activation if HSCs in JS-1 cells. After activation by platelet-derived growth factor-BB, an increase was observed in the expression of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin proteins. The expression of CircRNA_001373 was up-regulated in the activated HSCs. Knockdown of CircRNA_001373 significantly inhibited cell viability and activation of JS-1 cells, as well as autophagy in the activated HSCs. CircRNA_001373 could sponge miR-142a-5p in the activated HSCs, which in turn elevated the Becn1 expression. Concurrent knockdown of both CircRNA_001373 and miR-142a-5p reversed the inhibitory effects of the knockdown of CircRNA_001373 alone on cell viability and autophagy in activated JS-1 cells. CircRNA_ 001373 promotes cell viability and autophagy as well as the activation of JS-1 cells by regulating the miR-142a-5p/Becn1 axis.