Title:Evaluation of miR-122 Serum Level and IFN-λ3 Genotypes in Patients with Chronic HCV and HCV-infected Liver Transplant Candidate
VOLUME: 9
Author(s):Javad Moayedi, Tayebeh Hashempour*, Zahra Musavi, Ehsan Arefian, Mahmood Naderi, Mohamad Reza Heidari, Behzad Dehghani, Zahra Hasanshahi and Shahin Merat
Affiliation:Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Keywords:Hepatitis C virus, Liver transplant candidates, miR-122, ALT, AST, Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC).
Abstract:Background: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are the most common
markers of liver damage, but serum level interpretation can be complicated. In hepatocytes, microRNA-122 (miR-122) is
the most abundant miRs and its high expression in the serum is a characteristic of liver disease.
Objective: We aimed to compare the circulatory level of miR-122 in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), hepatitis C
virus (HCV) infected liver transplant candidates (LTC) and healthy controls to determine if miR-122 can be considered as
an indicator in chronic and advanced stage of liver disease.
Method: MiR-122 serum level was measured in 170 interferon-naïve (IFN-naïve) CHC patients, 62 LTC patients, and 132
healthy individuals via TaqMan real-time PCR. Serum levels of miR-122 were normalized to the serum level of Let-7a
and miR-221. Also, the ALT and AST levels were measured.
Results: ALT and AST activities and the expression of circulatory miR-122 were similar in the CHC and LTC groups, but
it had significantly increased compared to healthy individuals (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Up-regulation of miR122 in the sample of patients with normal ALT and AST activities was also observed, indicating that miR-122 is a good
marker with the high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing liver damage.
Conclusion: miR-122 seemed to be more specific for liver diseases in comparison with the routine ALT and AST liver
enzymes. Since the lower levels of circulating miR-122 were observed in the LTC group compared to CHC group,
advanced liver damages might reduce the release of miR-122 from the hepatocytes, as a sign of liver function deficiency.
