title: Associations between circulating microRNAs (miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122 and miR-451) and non-alcoholic fatty liver.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In many industrialized countries, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as an important disease that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Most people with NAFLD are asymptomatic, and the disease is discovered incidentally during clinical laboratory tests. Present screening methods for NAFLD use ultrasound, and CT scans that are time-consuming, and a simple screening method for NAFLD is needed. In this study, we investigated whether serum miRNAs are associated with NAFLD and assessed the potential of serum miRNAs as a biomarker for NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed intrahepatic fat by ultrasound scan, and the serum levels of five miRNAs (miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122, miR-145, and miR-451), which help regulate cholesterol and fatty acid homeostasis in liver tissue, by real-time PCR in a cross-sectional sample of 403 participants who attended health examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of miRNAs, miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122, and miR-451 were higher in participants with NAFLD. The serum level of miR-122 was correlated with the severity of liver steatosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of miRNAs, particularly miR-122, may be a useful biomarker for NAFLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan. Electronic address: hyamada@fujita-hu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichino
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osakabe
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Ryouji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teradaira
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamajima
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; C522425:MIRN34 microRNA, human; C531201:MIRN451 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Circulating microRNA; Cross-sectional study; Epidemiology; General people; Liver steatosis; NAFLD