title: Decreased levels of microRNA miR-122 in individuals with hepatitis C responding poorly to interferon therapy.
abstract: Several microRNAs (miRNAs), including liver-specific miR-122, have been implicated in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication and its response to interferon (IFN) in human hepatoma cells. Our analysis of liver biopsies from subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) undergoing IFN therapy revealed no correlation of miR-122 expression with viral load and markedly decreased pretreatment miR-122 levels in subjects who had no virological response during later IFN therapy; other investigated miRNAs showed only limited changes. These data have implications for the prospect of targeting miRNAs for CHC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarasin-Filipowicz
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Markiewicz
authors.forename: Markus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Filipowicz
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017211:Treatment Failure; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs