title: Circulating miRNA-122 levels are associated with hepatic necroinflammation and portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved survival of HIV infected individuals, while the relative contribution of liver-related mortality increased. Especially in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension represent the main causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Circulating miRNA-122 levels are elevated in HIV patients and have been shown to correlate with severity of liver injury. However, the association of miRNA-122 levels and hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension remains to be explored in HIV/HCV coinfection.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a total of 74 (31% female) patients with HIV/HCV coinfection were included. Serum levels of miRNA-122 were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and normalized to SV-40 spike-in RNA. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was measured in 52 (70%) patients and the fibrosis stage was determined in 63 (85%) patients using transient elastography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of circulating miRNA-122 were increased in HIV/HCV coinfected patients and significantly correlated with the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (rs = 0.438; p<0.001) and aspartate transaminase AST values (rs = 0.336; p = 0.003), but not with fibrosis stage (p = n.s.). Interestingly, miRNA-122 levels showed an inverse correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) (rs = -0.302; p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated miRNA-122 levels are associated with liver injury, and with low HVPG. Though, miRNA-122 levels are not suitable to predict the degree of fibrosis, they might function as indicators for portal hypertension in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Jansen
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Reiberger
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Eischeid
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Schierwagen
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Mattias
authors: M
authors: Mandorfer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Evrim
authors: E
authors: Anadol
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Schwabl
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Carolynne
authors: C
authors: Schwarze-Zander
authors: Department of General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Ute
authors: U
authors: Warnecke-Eberz
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christian P
authors: CP
authors: Strassburg
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Jürgen K
authors: JK
authors: Rockstroh
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Peck-Radosavljevic
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Margarete
authors: M
authors: Odenthal
authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Jonel
authors: J
authors: Trebicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017082:Portal Pressure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
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