Abstract
Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-122 (miR-122) in the progression of chronic hepatitis B virus- (HBV-) infected liver diseases, thus determining the role of serum miR-122 as a marker of HBV-caused liver injury. Methods Sera were collected from patients with different stages of HBV infection (n = 63) and healthy volunteers (n = 11). And the serum miR-122 levels were detected using RT-qPCR. Moreover, an analysis was applied for identifying the specific correlation of the miR-122 level with HBV DNA, HBeAg, and ALT levels. After liver biopsy, Ishak scoring was utilized for evaluation of the fibrosis stage and the histological activity index (HAI). Results We confirmed, in the serum, increased miR-122 expression in HBV-infected patients and its highest expression in chronic HBV carriers, based on such comparison between the healthy controls and patients. The correlation analysis results were taken as confirmation of the positive relationship of miR-122 with HBV DNA (r = 0.354, P = 0.005) and ALT (r = 0.331, P = 0.009). But no correlation of this molecule with HBeAg levels was found (P = 0.187). In comparison with the HBeAg-negative patients, serum miR-122 expression showed an increase in the HBeAg-positive patients (P = 0.001). miR-122 expression, in addition, was of a significant correlation with HAI, but not with the liver fibrosis score. Conclusion The peak of the serum miR-122 expression normally occurs in the early stage of the progression from the HBV carrier phase to chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis. This molecule can be considered as a marker for evaluation of HBV-caused liver injury.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is often mentioned as a serious public health issue which attacks 350-400 million people [1, 2]
Chronic HBV carriers can be defined as those people in the immune tolerance phase who are positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA and have normal liver function and no obvious abnormalities in the liver histology, and this situation might be maintained for several years or even decades [4, 5]
(2) HBV carrier group: people who are positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA with persistently normal levels of serum ALT and AST and with no obvious abnormality shown in their liver biopsy
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is often mentioned as a serious public health issue which attacks 350-400 million people [1, 2]. In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, liver cirrhosis carries a high risk to develop, as dose hepatocellular carcinoma [3]. Chronic HBV infection might go through several stages: chronic HBV carrier phase, CHB, cirrhosis, and HCC. Chronic HBV carriers can be defined as those people in the immune tolerance phase who are positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA and have normal liver function and no obvious abnormalities in the liver histology, and this situation might be maintained for several years or even decades [4, 5]. When patients progress to liver cirrhosis, 3% 6% patients have the possibility to develop into primary HCC [6]. It is essential to figure out regulation factors in the progression of HBV infectionrelated diseases, so as to better designate targeted treatments
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