AUTHOR=Bai Ying , Bao Xueli , Jiang Guangjian , Ge Dongyu , He Weipeng , Zhao Dandan , Zhang Yi , Dong Ruijuan , Hua Jing , Yang Nan , Mo Fangfang , Gao Sihua 

TITLE=Jiang Tang Xiao Ke Granule Protects Hepatic Tissue of Diabetic Mice Through Modulation of Insulin and Ras Signaling – A Bioinformatics Analysis of MicroRNAs and mRNAs Network

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00173

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.00173

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Objective: To investigate the impact of JTXK granule on the miRNA expression profiles in hepatic tissue of diabetic mice, and to explore the molecular targets and associated signaling pathways of JTXK granule in its anti-diabetic effect. Methods: 8 mice were randomly selected as normal group fed with chow diet from the beginning. Then high fat diet was used to induce diabetic model and divided the mice into JTXK-treated group (J group, n = 6) and model group (M group, n = 6). After 8 weeks’ intervention we examined the fasting blood glucose and observed the histopathologic changes in hepatic tissue between the two groups. Next we screened the differentially expressed miRNAs between the two groups using microRNA sequencing analysis. Finally, miRNA target gene prediction, GO and KEGG analysis were used to explore the function of DEMs. Results: The blood glucose level in J group was significantly lower than M group (P < 0.05). The results from HE staining showed that the arrangement and structure of hepatocytes from J group were basically normal with fewer ballooning degeneration and less inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, a total of 33 significantly differentiated miRNAs were detected in comparison between the two groups (|log2(fold change) |＞1.2, P<0.05). MiRNA-mRNA analysis showed that mmu-miR-30a-5p, mmu-miR-23b-5p, mmu-miR-199a-5p, mmu-miR-425-5p and mmu-miR-214-3p are closely related to inflammatory response, histological changes and insulin signal transduction in liver. In addition, KEGG analysis showed that the DEMs were closely related to Ras and insulin signaling pathway. Conclusion: JTXK granule exerts anti-diabetic effect in hepatic tissue of diabetic mice by modulating miRNAs and mRNAs network.