Correlation Between miR-125b Expression and Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the role of miR-125b as a non-invasive biomarker in chronic hepatitis C. Methods: An observational study was conducted on 94 treatment-naïve HCV-infected patients (mean age 49.8 ± 11.5 years, 59.6% females). Liver fibrosis was assessed by transient elastography (TE) and the expression of miR-125b in plasma was quantified by real-time PCR. Results: All patients were infected with HCV genotype 1b and had active viral replication, 42.6% had significant cytolysis, and 73.4% had increased serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) values. Significant fibrosis (liver stiffness measured by TE of > 7.1 kPa) was present in 61.7% of the patients. No significant associations were found between miR-125b expression and baseline HCV viral load (P = 0.56), IL28B polymorphisms (P = 0.5), alpha-fetoprotein levels (P = 0.27), and patients’ gender (P = 0.13) or age (P = 0.5). In a univariate analysis, the miR-125b expression level was significantly correlated with ALT (P = 0.001) and GGT levels (P < 0.0001). An up-regulated expression of miR-125b was found in plasma samples from patients with advanced liver fibrosis as compared to those with mild/moderate fibrosis [mean miR-125b value = 0.002 versus 0.001 (P = 0.02)]. In a multiple regression analysis, an upregulated miR-125b expression level remained independently in association only with significant fibrosis and increased GGT level (P = 0.026; R2 = 0.242). Conclusions: An up-regulated miR-125b expression might be an indicator of severe liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C, independent of the viral replication level.