title: Predictive prognostic role ofmiR-181awith discrepancy in the liver and serum of genotype 4 hepatitis C virus patients.
abstract: microRNA (miRNA) expression in organs does not always represent their quantity in serum. A disparity in the expression ofmiR-181ahas been reported in the tissues and serum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Since hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of HCC andmiR-181ahas never been studied in HCV, the present study aimed to investigate themiR-181aexpression profile in genotype 4 (GT4)-HCV patients to evaluate whether this pattern is also apparent in HCV. RNA was extracted from liver tissues, peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum samples from GT4-HCV-infected patients and healthy donors to evaluate the relativemiR-181aexpression using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.miR-181awas significantly higher in the serum of naïve patients compared to controls, and an inverse correlation with the viral load and liver enzymes was apparent. By contrast, no difference inmiR-181aexpression was observed in the liver tissues and PBMCs of patients compared to controls. This expression observed in HCV is conflicting to that previously reported in HCC. The study also demonstrates a significant upregulation ofmiR-181apost-interferon/ribavirin treatment in the serum of sustained virological responders (SVRs) compared to non-responders and treatment-naïve SVRs. In conclusion,miR-181amay be considered to be a possible prognostic marker in GT4-HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Dalia Sherif
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Elhelw
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Radwa Yehia
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Mekky
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Ekiaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ahmed Mohey
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eldin
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Mohammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abouelkhair
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.affiliation: Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11976, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zekri
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ihab
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
keywords: genotype 4; hepatitis C virus; microRNA-181a; prognosis; sustained virological responders; treatment response