title: Serum miR-181b Is Correlated with Hepatitis B Virus Replication and Disease Progression in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously, we reported that microRNA-181b (miR-181b) activates hepatic stellate cells partly through the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)/Akt pathway.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to ascertain whether serum miR-181b expression is correlated with that of liver hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and disease progression in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum miR-181b and liver HBV DNA levels were quantified in 64 CHB patients with real-time PCR. Liver fibrosis and necroinflammation were graded according to the Ishak scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum miR-181b levels were evaluated in the CHB group, compared with healthy controls. Expression in patients with HBsAg (+) was higher than that in patients with HBsAg (-). Notably, serum miR-181b and liver HBV DNA levels were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). Serum miR-181 levels were higher in patients with serum HBV DNA > 10(3) IU/ml (P = 0.017), histologic activity index (HAI) >8 (P = 0.001) and fibrosis score >4 (P < 0.0001). Liver HBV DNA levels were higher in patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values (P = 0.004), serum HBV DNA levels > 10(3) IU/ml (P = 0.034) and fibrosis score >4 (P = 0.006). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum miR-181b was identified as an independent predictor of disease progression (OR 4.172, 95 % CI 1.838-9.473, P = 0.009 for HAI >8; OR 5.387, 95 % CI 2.067-14.036, P = 0.001 for fibrosis score >4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum miR-181b is correlated with liver and serum HBV DNA levels as well as disease progression in CHB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 2 FuXue Lane, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fujun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guangyao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bicheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peihong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jianjian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; C540193:MIrn181 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs