Objective      To explore the effect of miR-7 on inhibiting liver X receptor β (LXRβ) and the potential role in hepatic lipogenesis.       Methods      HepG2 cells transfected with miR-7 were subjected to real-time PCR and Western blotting for detection of LXRβ mRNA and protein levels. Bioinformatics was used to predict the potential binding site of miR-7 on 3′-UTR of LXRβ. Recombinant plasmid containing LXRβ 3′-UTR (pMIR/LXRβ) was constructed

and then the report assay was used to detect the effect of miR-7 on the activity of LXRβ 3′-UTR. Real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) as LXRβ downstream targets.       Results      MiR-7 down-regulated both mRNA and protein levels of LXRβ (P0.05). Bioinformatics showed that there was potential miR-7 binding site on LXRβ

and miR-7 could reduce the luciferase activity of pMIR/LXRβ (P0.05). In addition

miR-7 decreased the mRNA levels of FAS and ACC.       Conclusion      MiR-7 can suppress LXRβ expression through binding to LXRβ 3′-UTR. Moreover

miR-7 may suppress hepatic lipogenesis by down-regulating the expression of LXRβ downstream targets FAS and ACC.