title: Association of polymorphism in pri-microRNAs-371-372-373 with the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro RNAs-371-372-373 (miRNAs-371-373), originating from the same pri-miRNA transcript, are reported to be upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to be related to the regulation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Our study investigated whether pri-miRNAs-371-373 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of HCC occurrence and HBV clearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genetic variations were identified through direct DNA sequencing using TaqMan assay. Three sequence variants of pri-miRNAs-371-373 were identified. Genetic associations of those with HCC occurrence and HBV clearance among patients with HBV infection were analyzed using logistic regression analyses with adjustment for age and gender (n = 1439).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the occurrence of HCC, polymorphism rs3859501C>A acted as a protective factor both in chronic carriers (OR = 0.75, P = 0.005 in a codominant model; OR = 0.71, P = 0.02 in a dominant model; OR = 0.66, P = 0.03 in recessive model) and liver cirrhosis patients (OR = 0.69, P = 0.001 in a codominant model; OR = 0.60, P = 0.003 in a dominant model; OR = 0.63, P = 0.03 in a recessive model). The pri-miRNAs-371-373_ht2 [C-A-C] also showed a protective effect on HCC occurrence both in the chronic carrier and liver cirrhosis groups (P<0.05 in both). However, there was no significant association between pri-miRNAs-371-373 polymorphisms and HBV clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, among chronic carriers and liver cirrhosis patients, the A allele of rs3859501 and the haplotype pri-miRNAs-371-373_ht2 were more protective to HCC than other genotypes and haplotypes. Further studies into the roles of rs3859501 and pri-miRNAs-371-373_ht2 haplotype in hepatocarcinogenesis are needed.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min-Sun
authors: MS
authors: Kwak
authors: Dong Hyeon
authors: DH
authors: Lee
authors: Yuri
authors: Y
authors: Cho
authors: Eun-Ju
authors: EJ
authors: Cho
authors: Jeong-Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Su Jong
authors: SJ
authors: Yu
authors: Jung-Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Yoon
authors: Hyo-Suk
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Chung Yong
authors: CY
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Youn
authors: JY
authors: Cheong
authors: Sung Won
authors: SW
authors: Cho
authors: Hyoung Doo
authors: HD
authors: Shin
authors: Yoon Jun
authors: YJ
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C554834:MIRN371 microRNA, human; C561021:MIRN372 microRNA, human; C527114:MIRN373 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs