RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: NAFLD is one of the fast-growing health problems that affects up to 25% of people worldwide. Numerous miRNAs have been clarified as important regulators of liver pathophysiology, including NAFLD. Thus, we investigated the expression of the MiRNA-34a and MiRNA-192 as diagnostic markers for NAFLD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from NAFLD cases and healthy controls. The expression profile of both studied miRNAs was detected via real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS: The present study showed that both studied miRNAs were upregulated in NAFLD patients compared to controls. Interestingly, miRNA-34a and MiRNA-192 are upregulated in NAFLD patients with early fibrosis compared to controls [with a fold change of 4.02 ± 11.49 (P = 0.05) and 18.43 ± 47.8 (P = 0.017), respectively]. However, miRNA-34a is downregulated in NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis compared to controls, with fold expression of 0.65 ± 1.17 (P = 0.831). The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) for miRNA-34a and miRNA-192 were 0.790 and 0.643, respectively; furthermore, the sensitivities and specificities were 76.7%, 100% for miRNA-34a and 63.3%, and 93.3% for miRNA-192 (P < 0.05). Additionally, MiRNA34a was positively correlated with hypertension and fasting blood sugar, and it also was negatively correlated with hemoglobin level and total leucocyte count (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicated that both studied miRNAs could potentially be used as diagnostic biomarkers for the early stage of liver fibrosis in NAFLD cases. Also, miRNA-34a was positively correlated with metabolic disorders associated with NAFLD such as hypertension and diabetes. However, their expression showed no association with advanced fibrosis. Thus, larger cohorts are necessitated to certify the utility of serum MiRNA-34a and MiRNA-192 in monitoring the deterioration of NAFLD.
RESUMO
The relation between interferon lambda 4 gene (IFNL4) and direct acting antiviral (DAA) regimens in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients is not clear. So, a single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of IFNL4 gene genotypes and its relationship with Sofosbuvir (SOF) and Ribavirin (RBV) treatment response is under consideration. This study aims to investigate the relation between IFNL4 polymorphisms and clearance of HCV genotype 4 for HCV patients. Hence, the appropriate drug can be chosen for each patient. SNP genotyping assay for IFNL4 which formerly known as IL28B (rs368234815) was examined for genomic DNA. The DNA was extracted from whole blood of one hundred patients who documented to have infection with chronic HCV genotype 4 (positive PCR) and treated with SOF and RBV. Patients were diagnosed, previously, as HCV genotype 4 and classified according to drug response into two groups (responders, non-responders). All samples were compared with 50 of non-infected (negative PCR) people (control group). The TT/TT homozygous represents 48% of patients and 66% of non-infected people while the homozygous ∆G/∆G is 21% and 12%, respectively. There is significance to IFNL4 genotypes for the treatment response with the probability value p < 0.001. The percentages of the appearance of genotypes TT/TT, TT/∆G and ∆G/∆G for responders were 60%, 28% and 12%, respectively. There is no significance for gender, age, ALT and PLC to treatment response to SOF and RBV, while INR has.
