Abstract
Objectives To analyze the expression of miR-122 and evaluate its significance in patients with HBV infection in different phases. Methods Eleven chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 26 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced cirrhosis, 16 HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and 10 healthy control cases were enrolled. The serum levels of miR-122 were detected by RT-PCR and compared between healthy individuals and CHB at different stages. Results Compared with healthy control cases, serum miR-122 levels were markedly increased in HBV infection cases (AUC = 0.795, P=0.002). In the CHB group, miR-122 levels were positively associated with albumin levels (P < 0.05) but had no significant associations with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P > 0.05). In the cirrhosis group, miR-122 expression was remarkably lower in the Child C group in comparison with the Child A group (P=0.025). At the same time, miR-122 amounts had a negative correlation with HVPG (P < 0.05). In the HCC group, miR-122 amounts were negatively associated with alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P < 0.05). Serum miR-122 amounts in 3 patients who died were lower than the survival group (5.520 ± 0.522 vs. 5.860 ± 1.183, P > 0.05). Conclusion Serum miR-122 can be leveraged to screen patients with HBV infection. In HBV sufferers, the serum miR-122 expression level is related to liver disease progression, hence making it an underlying molecular biomarker for predicting the development of CHB.
Highlights
More than 250 million individuals globally have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [1]
Serum miR-122 Amounts in Healthy Controls and Cases with Different Stages of HBV Infection
The highest miR-122 amounts were detected in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group (P < 0.05). ere were no remarkable diversities between the cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) groups in terms of miR-122 levels (P 0.878)
Summary
More than 250 million individuals globally have chronic HBV infection [1]. Persistent HBV infection might induce hepatic damage and develop into advanced hepatic pathologies. 3%–6% hepatic sclerosis cases may progress to primary HCC [2]. HBV patients with worsening liver function and decompensating liver cirrhosis should be imperatively assessed at the disease early stage. HBV replication is modulated by various host factors, including miRNAs. miRNAs are remarkably conserved small ncRNAs that simultaneously regulate physiological and pathological functions in the liver. Changes in the expression of miRNAs are related to hepatic metabolic disorders, hepatic damages, hepatic fibrosis, and tumor progression, which make miRNAs appealing targets for the diagnoses and treatment of hepatic diseases [3]
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