Detection and clinical significance of differentially expressed microRNAs in chronic hepatitis B patients before being treated with pegylated interferon

Abstract

Objective To detect differentially expressed microRNAs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) before being treated with pegylated interferon (PegIFN) and the relationship between their target genes and HBsAg loss. Methods Pretreatment differentially expressed microRNAs between different response groups were screened using high throughput microarrays and validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine their target genes potential mechanistic roles. Results A total of 417 microRNA were differentially expressed between different response groups, among which 342 were up-regulated and 75 were down-regulated. miR-3960, miR-126-3p, miR-23 a-3p and miR-335-5p were verified to be down-regulated by RT-qPCR result in HBsAg loss group. Bioinformatic analysis result show that the relevant pathways of microRNAs include AMPK signal pathway, NOD-like signal pathway, NF-kappa B signal pathway and mTOR signal pathway. Conclusions HBsAg loss is probably achieved as the result of genes expression regulated in association with immune response, further enhance the immune response of HBV elimination and acquire HBsAg loss. Key words: Pegylated interferon; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; MicroRNAs; HBsAg