Baicalin confers hepatoprotective effect against alcohol-associated liver disease by upregulating microRNA-205.

• miR-205 exerts hepatoprotective effect against alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). • miR-205 targets and inhibits importinα5 expression. • Baicalin upregulates miR-205 expression. • Baicalin inhibits importinα5 to repress the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. • This study provides better understanding of the hepatoprotective effect of baicalin in ALD. Recently, baicalin refers to flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been indicated to hold promising therapeutic effects in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). However, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for its hepatoprotective effect is still very limited. Evidence exists suggesting potential association between miR-205 and baicalin's function. Bioinformatic analysis and dual luciferase reporter assay were conducted to determine the binding affinity between miR-205 and importinα5. Our findings revealed that baicalin could alleviate ALD by raising the expression of miR-205. Additionally, miR-205 repressed NF-κB signaling pathway activation by binding to importinα5 to relieve ALD. Baicalin inhibited importinα5-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway to protect the liver against alcohol-induced injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis. Taken conjointly, baicalin confers hepatoprotective effect against ALD through miR-205-mediated importinα5 inhibition via the NF-κB signaling pathway, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for ALD treatment with the help of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]