Zhen-Hua Ma1, Cheng-Xue Sun1, Hong Shi1, Jian-Hua Fan1, Yu-Guo Song2, Pei-Jun Cong3, Xiang-Min Kong4, Da-Lin Hao5. 1. Department of Infection, The Affiliated Hospital of BeiHua University, JiLin City, Jilin Province 132011, China. 2. Department of Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of BeiHua University, JiLin City, Jilin Province 132011, China. 3. Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of BeiHua University, JiLin City, Jilin Province 132011, China. 4. Department of Pneumology, The Affiliated Hospital of BeiHua University, JiLin City, Jilin Province 132011, China. 5. Department of Infection, The Affiliated Hospital of BeiHua University, JiLin City, Jilin Province 132011, China. Electronic address: haodalin27@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine whether relative miR-122 levels in peripheral blood are correlated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and viral replication to determine whether miR-122 can be a new marker for liver injury. METHODS: MicroRNA (miRNA) was extracted from the peripheral blood of 20 CHB patients, 20 CHC patients, and 20 healthy controls. The levels of miR-122 were determined using fluorescence real-time reverse transcription PCR. Then, the associations of miR-122 with CHB and CHC were analyzed, and its correlation with other markers of liver function and viral replication were determined. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-122 in patients with CHB was significantly higher when compared to subjects in the control group (P = 0.007) or CHC patients (P = 0.005). Furthermore, the miR-122 level in patients with CHC was somewhat higher when compared to healthy controls (66% higher), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.229). MiR-122 levels were significantly correlated with ALT (correlation coefficient [R] = 0.7, P < 0.001), AST (R = 0.71, P < 0.001), and HBV NA (R = 0.9, P < 0.001). The regression analysis indicated that the AUC of miR-122 levels in the diagnosis of CHB was 0.87, with a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.8. CONCLUSION: MiR-122 can be used to distinguish healthy persons and patients with CHB infection with high sensitivity and specificity. These present findings presented that the complex and context-specific associations of miR-122 with liver diseases, suggesting that this may be a promising marker for liver injury.
BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine whether relative miR-122 levels in peripheral blood are correlated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and viral replication to determine whether miR-122 can be a new marker for liver injury. METHODS: MicroRNA (miRNA) was extracted from the peripheral blood of 20 CHBpatients, 20 CHC patients, and 20 healthy controls. The levels of miR-122 were determined using fluorescence real-time reverse transcription PCR. Then, the associations of miR-122 with CHB and CHC were analyzed, and its correlation with other markers of liver function and viral replication were determined. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-122 in patients with CHB was significantly higher when compared to subjects in the control group (P = 0.007) or CHC patients (P = 0.005). Furthermore, the miR-122 level in patients with CHC was somewhat higher when compared to healthy controls (66% higher), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.229). MiR-122 levels were significantly correlated with ALT (correlation coefficient [R] = 0.7, P < 0.001), AST (R = 0.71, P < 0.001), and HBV NA (R = 0.9, P < 0.001). The regression analysis indicated that the AUC of miR-122 levels in the diagnosis of CHB was 0.87, with a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.8. CONCLUSION:MiR-122 can be used to distinguish healthy persons and patients with CHB infection with high sensitivity and specificity. These present findings presented that the complex and context-specific associations of miR-122 with liver diseases, suggesting that this may be a promising marker for liver injury.
Authors: Vladimir V Loukachov; Karel A van Dort; Irma Maurer; R Bart Takkenberg; Anniki de Niet; Henk W Reesink; Sophie B Willemse; Neeltje A Kootstra Journal: Front Cell Infect Microbiol Date: 2022-06-02 Impact factor: 6.073