Serum microRNAs predict response of patients with chronic hepatitis B to antiviral therapy. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Bingqin; Liu, Mei; Wang, Liming; Wang, Jinhuan; Xiong, Fang; Bao, Xuli; Gao, Yao; Yu, Lele; Lu, Jun
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 108(2021)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: microRNA -- Antiviral therapy -- Chronic hepatitis B; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: miR-122-5p and miR-1307-3p at baseline could predict efficacy of antiviral therapy. Dynamic fluctuations of serum microRNAs could predict efficacy of antiviral therapy. Four down-regulated microRNAs were early predictors to antiviral therapy response. miR-122-5p positively correlated with titer of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B e antigen at baseline. miR-320a-3p negatively correlated with quantification of hepatitis B virus DNA at baseline. Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using serum microRNAs to predict the response of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients to antiviral therapy over 48 weeks. Methods: Sixty-five CHB patients were divided into responder and non-responder groups according to whether hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion occurred at week 48. Serum microRNAs were dynamically detected. Results: At baseline, the responder group had lower miR-122-5p ( P = 0.006) and higher miR-1307-3p ( P = 0.018) than the non-responder group. After therapy, miR-320a-3p and miR-320c were higher in the responder group than the non-responder group ( P = 0.043 and 0.031, respectively). In the responder group, 9 microRNAs—let-7d-5p, let-7f-5p, let-7i-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-1307-3p, miR-181a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-425-5p and miR-652-3p—were significantly lower at week 48 than at baseline ( P < 0.05); however, miR-320a-3p was significantly elevated after therapy ( P < 0.001). In the non-responder group, miR-122-5p significantly decreased after therapy compared with baseline ( P = 0.005). Finally, miR-122-5p was positively correlated with titer of hepatitis B virus DNA (r = 0.438, P = 0.008) and hepatitis B e antigen (r = 0.610, P < 0.001), and miR-320a-3p was negatively correlated with hepatitis B virus DNA titer (r = −0.366, P = 0.028) at baseline. Conclusions: The dynamic fluctuations of serum microRNAs might predict the efficacy of antiviral therapy for CHB.