Progressive
liver fibrosis, caused by chronic
viral infection and metabolic disorders, results in the development of
cirrhosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma. However, no antifibrotic
therapies have been approved to date. In our previous study, adeno‑associated virus (AAV) short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and
transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β administration could persistently inhibit HBV replication and concomitantly prevent
liver fibrosis. However, the differentially expressed
proteins and critical regulatory networks of AAV‑shRNA treatment remain unclear. Accordingly, in the present study, we aimed to analyze differentially expressed
proteins in the liver of AAV‑shRNA‑treated mice with HBV
infection and
liver fibrosis using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)‑based quantitative proteomics and to elucidate the underlying antifibrotic mechanisms. In total 2,743 proteins were recognized by iTRAQ‑based quantitative proteomics analysis. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the differentially expressed
proteins mostly participated in
peptide metabolism in the biological process category, cytosolic ribosomes in the cell component category, and structural constituents of ribosomes in the molecular function category. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that oxidative stress and the peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor (
PPAR) signaling pathway were activated
after treatment. Verification studies revealed that AAV‑shRNAs inhibited hepatic stellate cell activation and
inflammation by suppressing nuclear factor‑κB p65 phosphorylation and α‑smooth muscle actin expression via upregulation of PPAR‑γ. Hepatocytes steatosis was also decreased by activating the
PPAR signaling pathway and improving lipid metabolism. The expression level of TGF‑β was decreased due to upregulation of PPAR‑γ expression and direct inhibition using AAV‑shRNA targeting TGF‑β. TGF‑β‑induced oxidative stress was suppressed by increasing
glutathione S‑transferase Pi 1 and reducing
peroxiredoxin 1. Collectively, the present results indicated that AAV‑shRNAs were effective in modulating
liver fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress,
inflammation and activating the
PPAR signaling pathway.