MicroRNA profiles in serum samples from patients with stable cirrhosis and miRNA-21 as a predictor of transplant-free survival

Publication date: Available online 20 June 2018 Source:Pharmacological Research Author(s): Alex Evangelista do Amaral, Michele Patrícia Rode, Julia Cisilotto, Telma Erotides da Silva, Josiane Fischer, Camila Matiollo, Elayne Cristina de Morais Rateke, Janaína Luz Narciso-Schiavon, Leonardo Lucca Schiavon, Tânia Beatriz Creczynski-Pasa MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have remarkable potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers because of their roles in disease pathogenesis. miRNAs can be released into the bloodstream, where they are sufficiently stable to be detected noninvasively. Here, we prospectively evaluated serum levels of miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122, miR-181b, and miR-885-5p in patients with stable cirrhosis. Total RNA was extracted from the sera of patients with cirrhosis and healthy individuals, and the expression levels of the target miRNAs were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum miRNAs levels were correlated with liver function parameters, etiology, and complications of cirrhosis. Circulating miR-34a, miR-122, and miR-885-5p levels were higher in patients with cirrhosis than in healthy individuals. These miRNAs were positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the relative expression levels were higher in hepatitis C virus-infected patients and lower in patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis. miR-122 and miR-885-5p levels were also positively correlated with γ-glutamyl tr...
Source: Pharmacological Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research