title: Expression of serum exosomal microRNA-21 in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: New strategies for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are urgently needed. There is an increasing interest in using microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers in diseases. In this study, we examined the expression of miR-21 in serum exosomes from patients with HCC or chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and investigated the potential clinical significance of miR-21. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that the concentration of miR-21 was significantly higher in exosomes than in exosome-depleted supernatants or the whole serum. Further, the expression level of serum exosomal miR-21 was significantly higher in patients with HCC than those with CHB or healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, resp.). High level of miR-21 expression correlated with cirrhosis (P = 0.024) and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.001). Although serum level of miR-21 was higher in patients with HCC than in patients with CHB and healthy volunteers, the sensitivity of detection is much lower than using exosomal miR-21. These findings indicate that miR-21 is enriched in serum exosomes which provides increased sensitivity of detection than whole serum. Exosomal miR-21 may serve as a potential biomarker for HCC diagnosis.
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Hongwei
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Lijuan
authors: L
authors: Hou
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Aihui
authors: A
authors: Li
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Yuxiu
authors: Y
authors: Duan
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Haili
authors: H
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Infection Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China.
authors: Xinwen
authors: X
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm