Long non-coding RNA H19, a negative regulator of microRNA-148b-3p, participates in hypoxia stress in human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells via NOX4 and eNOS/NO signaling

Abstract This study aimed at the participation of lncRNA H19, endothelial NADPH oxidases (NOX4) and miR-148b-3p in hypoxia stress in human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HHSEC), and clarifying the relationship among them. The expression of lnc H19, NOX4 and miR-148b-3p in cirrhotic patients and hypoxic HHSEC were measured by RT-PCR. The nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide content in HHSEC were determined using ultraviolet chromatometry. The protein levels of NOX4, endothelial NOS (eNOS) and phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS) were measured via western blotting. The interaction between NOX4 promoter and lnc H19/miR-148b-3p was measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene detection system. The present results indicated that the expressions of NOX4 mRNA and lnc H19 were increased but miR-148b-3p was decreased in both cirrhotic patients and hypoxic HHSEC. Further, hypoxia induced the up-regulation of hydrogen peroxide and the down-regulation of eNOS/NO signaling in HHSEC. And these symptoms were ameliorated by lnc H19 shRNA and miR-148b-3p mimics. But the beneficial effects of lnc H19 shRNA and miR-148b-3p mimics were further abolished by miR-148b-3p inhibitor and NOX4 over-expression, respectively. In addition, NOX4 was a direct, negatively regulated target of miR-148b-3p, and miR-148b-3p was negatively regulated by lnc H19. Collectively, lnc H19 is a negatively regulator of microRNA-148b-3p, and participate in hypoxia stress in HHSEC via positively regulating NOX4 and negatively regulating eNOS/NO signaling.