Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: miRNA -338-3p/CDK4 signaling pathway suppressed hepatic stellate cell activation and 
proliferation  
 
Version: 0 Date: 22 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Sanchari Roy  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Here, Duan et al have provided an evidence for the role of miR -338 in liver fibrosis. Study is 
interesting but I have some concerns which needs to be addressed.  
1. The graphs are disproportionate (for e.g. Fig. 1D , 1E) . Graphs need to be of publishable 
quality.  
2. It is not clear what are the concentrations of TGFβ, SB431542, miR -338 precursor , inhibitor 
used.  
3. Western blot quality of Fig. 3L is poor. Even the quantification of the blots are missing.  
4. miR-338 should be replaced with 'miR -338-3p' 
5. Fig3C an d Fig 3E should be altered with high quality pictures.  
6. An miRNA may have many downstream targets, why they found CDK4 is critical, how 
about others?  
7. Sentences have to be reconstructed suitable for publication and proof -checked by English 
speakers.  For eg. line 6 says 'as times went on' / line 39 'miR -338's inhibitory effect/line 44 a 
small number of cases go on  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares i n an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you receive d reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in  relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my name d report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: miRNA -338-3p/CDK4 signaling pathway suppressed hepatic stellate cell activation and 
proliferation  
 
Version: 0 Date: 22 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Sanchari Roy  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Here, Duan et al have provided an evidence for the role of miR -338 in liver fibrosis. Study is 
interesting but I have some concerns which needs to be addressed.  
1. The graphs are disproportionate (for e.g. Fig. 1D , 1E) . Graphs need to be of publishable 
quality.  
2. It is not clear what are the concentrations of TGFβ, SB431542, miR -338 precursor , inhibitor 
used.  
3. Western blot quality of Fig. 3L is poor. Even the quantification of the blots are missing.  
4. miR-338 should be replaced with 'miR -338-3p' 
5. Fig3C an d Fig 3E should be altered with high quality pictures.  
6. An miRNA may have many downstream targets, why they found CDK4 is critical, how 
about others?  
7. Sentences have to be reconstructed suitable for publication and proof -checked by English 
speakers.  For eg. line 6 says 'as times went on' / line 39 'miR -338's inhibitory effect/line 44 a 
small number of cases go on  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares i n an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you receive d reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in  relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my name d report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: miRNA -338-3p/CDK4 signaling pathway suppressed hepatic stellate cell activation and 
proliferation  
 
Version: 0 Date: 22 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Sanchari Roy  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Here, Duan et al have provided an evidence for the role of miR -338 in liver fibrosis. Study is 
interesting but I have some concerns which needs to be addressed.  
1. The graphs are disproportionate (for e.g. Fig. 1D , 1E) . Graphs need to be of publishable 
quality.  
2. It is not clear what are the concentrations of TGFβ, SB431542, miR -338 precursor , inhibitor 
used.  
3. Western blot quality of Fig. 3L is poor. Even the quantification of the blots are missing.  
4. miR-338 should be replaced with 'miR -338-3p' 
5. Fig3C an d Fig 3E should be altered with high quality pictures.  
6. An miRNA may have many downstream targets, why they found CDK4 is critical, how 
about others?  
7. Sentences have to be reconstructed suitable for publication and proof -checked by English 
speakers.  For eg. line 6 says 'as times went on' / line 39 'miR -338's inhibitory effect/line 44 a 
small number of cases go on  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of wr itten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares i n an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you receive d reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in  relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the websi te along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my name d report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant