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Increased hepatic expression of miRNA-122 in patients infected with HCV genotype 3

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

FAPESP São Paulo Research Foundation (2012/50332-7 and 2012/15706-3) and Alves de Queiroz Family Fund for Research. João R. R. Pinho receives fellowship from CNPq (Bolsista de Produtividade em Pesquisa do CNPq—Nível 2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

    Ketti G. Oliveira, Fernanda M. Malta, Azzo Widman, Paola L. Faria, Flair J. Carrilho & João R. R. Pinho

  2. Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho Aguiar, 500–2 ̊ andar-IMT II, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil

    Fernanda M. Malta, Paola L. Faria & João R. R. Pinho

  3. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil

    Ketti G. Oliveira, Rúbia A. F. Santana & João R. R. Pinho

  4. Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of São Paulo, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

    Ana C. S. S. Nastri

  5. Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

    Venâncio A. F. Alves

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  1. Ketti G. Oliveira
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Correspondence to Fernanda M. Malta.

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Oliveira, K.G., Malta, F.M., Nastri, A.C.S.S. et al. Increased hepatic expression of miRNA-122 in patients infected with HCV genotype 3. Med Microbiol Immunol 205, 111–117 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-015-0431-0

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