Specific circulating microRNAs during hepatitis E infection can serve as indicator for chronic hepatitis E

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3, HEV-4) infections are an emerging public health issue in industrialized countries. HEV-3 and −4 are usually self-limiting but can progress to chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised individuals. The molecular mechanisms involved in persistent infect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2020-03, Vol.10 (1), p.5337-5337, Article 5337
Main Authors: Harms, Dominik, Choi, Mira, Allers, Kristina, Wang, Bo, Pietsch, Heiko, Papp, C.-Patrick, Hanisch, Lina, Kurreck, Jens, Hofmann, Jörg, Bock, C.-Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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631/326/596
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Adult
Aged
Biomarkers - blood
Chronic infection
Circulating MicroRNA - blood
Female
Gene Expression Regulation
Genotypes
Hepatitis
Hepatitis E - genetics
Hepatitis, Chronic - genetics
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Infections
Liver
Liver - physiology
Male
MicroRNAs - blood
Middle Aged
miRNA
Molecular modelling
multidisciplinary
Public health
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 3 and 4 (HEV-3, HEV-4) infections are an emerging public health issue in industrialized countries. HEV-3 and −4 are usually self-limiting but can progress to chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised individuals. The molecular mechanisms involved in persistent infections are poorly understood. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) can regulate viral pathogenesis and can serve as novel disease biomarkers. We aimed to explore the modulation of serum miRNAs in patients with acute (AHE) and chronic (CHE) hepatitis E. Both AHE- and CHE-patients exhibited high viral loads (median 3.23E + 05 IU/mL and 2.11E + 06 IU/mL, respectively) with HEV-3c being the predominant HEV-genotype. Expression analysis of liver-specific serum miRNAs was performed using real-time PCR. miR-99a-5p, miR-122-5p, and miR-125b-5p were upregulated in AHE (4.70–5.28 fold) and CHE patients (2.28–6.34 fold), compared to HEV-negative controls. Notably, miR-192-5p was increased 2.57 fold while miR-125b-5p was decreased 0.35 fold in CHE but not in AHE patients. Furthermore, decreased miR-122-5p expression significantly correlates with reduced liver transaminases in CHE patients. To our knowledge, this marks the first investigation concerning the regulation of circulating liver-specific miRNAs in acute and chronic HEV infections. We found that miR-125b-5p, miR-192-5p, and miR-99a-5p may prove useful in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis E.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-62159-9