Increased hepatic expression of miRNA-122 in patients infected with HCV genotype 3.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects approximately 3 % of the world population. HCV targets hepatic tissue, and most infected patients develop a chronic infection. Currently, studies have demonstrated an association between HCV-RNA replication and miR-122, the most abundant microRNA in the liver. Our aim was to evaluate liver and serum expression of miR-122 in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 3, and to identify possible associations between miR-122 expression and lipid profiles, HCV viral load, apolipoproteins and liver enzymes. MicroRNAs were isolated from blood and liver tissue, and miR-122 expression was quantified by real-time PCR. HCV viral load was quantified by real-time PCR and HCV genotype, and serum biomarkers were obtained from medical report. The levels of miR-122 were higher in liver than those in blood from individuals infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 3 (p < 0.0001). The tissue levels of miR-122 were higher in subjects infected with HCV genotype 3 (6.22-fold, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between the blood and hepatic levels of miR-122 in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (r = 0.302, p = 0.026); in these patients, an inverse correlation was observed between serum apolipoprotein A-II (ApoA-II) levels and the blood (r = -0.330; p = 0.014) and hepatic (r = -0.311; p = 0.020) levels of miR-122. In patients infected with HCV genotype 3, there was a positive correlation between the hepatic miR-122 and the high-density lipoprotein-HDL (r = 0.412, p = 0.036) and insulin (r = 0.478, p = 0.044). Lipid metabolism proteins and miR-122 expression levels have different relations in HCV-3- and HCV-1-infected patients.
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.|Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ketti G
KG
Oliveira
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. femalta@yahoo.com.|Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho Aguiar, 500-2 ̊ andar-IMT II, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil. femalta@yahoo.com.
Fernanda M
FM
Malta
Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana C S S
AC
Nastri
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Azzo
A
Widman
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.|Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho Aguiar, 500-2 ̊ andar-IMT II, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.
Paola L
PL
Faria
Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rúbia A F
RA
Santana
Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Venâncio A F
VA
Alves
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Flair J
FJ
Carrilho
Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.|Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho Aguiar, 500-2 ̊ andar-IMT II, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.|Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil.
João R R
JR
Pinho
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load
D015415:Biomarkers; C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
HCV infection; Hepatic expression; Lipid metabolism; miR-122