Abstract

Background Increasing evidences have confirmed the relationship between mitophagy and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The exact mechanism of upstream circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulating PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) mediated mitophagy and its contribution to NASH-related liver fibrosis was explored in our study. Methods Primary hepatic stellate cells (PHSCs) from C57BL/6 mice transfected with small interfering RNAs against PINK1 (si-PINK1) and negative control (si-NC) were prepared to perform circRNA sequence. Differentially expressed circRNAs, bioinformatic analysis and predicting software were performed to select axis of circ608/miR-222/PINK1. The expressions of circ608/miR-222/PINK1 were verified by RT-qPCR. The mitochondrial function was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining of COX4 and LC3B. Results PINK1-mediated mitophagy was inhibited in NASH-related liver fibrosis mice. CircRNA sequence revealed there were 37 DE-circRNAs between si-PINK1 PHSCs and si-NC PHSCs. Bioinformatic analysis showed these DE-circRNAs were related to enriched signaling pathways (such as Wnt, Rap1, mTOR, Hippo) regulating liver fibrosis and mitophagy. Circ608 was significantly down-regulated in lipotoxic HSCs and in livers of NASH-related liver fibrosis mice. MiR222 was identified to be the target miRNA of circ608 and was negatively regulated by circ608 in lipotoxic HSCs. MiR222 also had a binding site with PINK1 and could negatively regulate PINK1. So, the axis of circ608-miR222-PINK1 was proved to participate in NASH-related liver fibrosis by regulating mitophagy. These results illustrated that circ608 might promote PINK1-mediated mitophagy though inhibiting miR222 in lipotoxic HSCs. Conclusion Circ608 could promote PINK1-mediated mitophagy of HSCs though inhibiting miR222 in NASH-related liver fibrosis.