Genetic variation in microRNA-100 (miR-100) rs1834306 T/C associated with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: Correlation with expression level.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have a vital role in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) diagnosis and therapeutics. miR-100 was reported to be associated with various aspects of HBV biology. This study focused on a miR-100 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (rs1834306 T/C) and its contribution to an individual's susceptibility and prognosis of HBV infection. The effect of SNP on miR-100 expression will be also evaluated. Two hundred subjects: 100 HBV infected patients and 100 age-and-sex-matched healthy individuals served as a control group. SNP detection was performed using polymerase chain reaction technique with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) method and miR-100 expression through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Our result showed a significant up-regulation of miR-100 expression in HBV patients versus the control group (P < .01). A positive correlation was found between viral load and elevation in miR-100 expression (r = 0.508; P < .01). Concerning miR-100 expression in different genotypes/alleles, TC genotype and T allele in coincides with a significantly elevated expression level of miR-100 (P < .001) in HBV patients than in controls. Best of our knowledge, it is the first observational prospective case-control study concerned with miR-100 (rs1834306 T/C) SNP in the Egyptian population. However, the small size of this preliminary work required more prospective investigations to confirm our data.

Serum level of interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 in infants with biliary atresia - is it of value?

AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to assess the utility of serum level IL-13Rα2 receptors as a non-invasive marker for early diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) and selection of BA patients indicated for Kasai portoenterostomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 60 infants with neonatal cholestasis in three groups; early BA group (n = 20), delayed BA group (n = 20) and non-BA cholestasis group (n = 20). A fourth group of 20 healthy neonates (n = 20) served as controls. IL-13Rα2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all patients and controls. RESULTS: The mean value of IL-13Rα2 was significantly higher in delayed BA group (11.05 ± 10.9 ng/ml) compared to early BA (0.34 ± 0.37 ng/ml), non-BA (0.54 ± 0.85 ng/ml) and control (0.24-0.2 ng/ml) groups. The levels of serum IL-13Rα2 increase with the severity of the degree of fibrosis. IL-13Rα2 at a cutoff level > 0.782 ng/ml could predict late fibrosis with accuracy of 77.55% (p < 0.0001). IL-13Rα2 could differentiate between preserved and disturbed liver architecture at a cut off value of more than 0.42 ng/ml with an accuracy of 81.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IL-13Rα2 not a diagnostic marker for BA however it could be used as a noninvasive marker for detection of advanced liver fibrosis and presence of disturbed liver architecture that helps in patient selection for undergoing Kasai operation. Serum IL-13Rα2 could be a future therapeutic target for management of BA patients and any fibrotic liver disease.

Preoperative Serum IL-12p40 Is a Potential Predictor of Kasai Portoenterostomy Outcome in Infants with Biliary Atresia.

The standard-of-care treatment for biliary atresia (BA) is surgical restoration of bile flow by Kasai portoenterostomy. We aimed to study serum interleukin- (IL-) 12p40, a natural antagonist for the proinflammatory IL-12p70, and its relation to surgical outcomes of BA. The study included 75 infants with neonatal cholestasis: BA group (n = 25), non-BA cholestasis group (n = 30), and neglected BA group (n = 20), in addition to thirty healthy neonates serving as controls. IL-12p40 was measured by ELISA in all individuals and a second assessment was performed 3 months postoperatively in the BA group. The surgical outcomes were classified as successful (bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dl) or failed (bilirubin > 2 mg/dl). IL-12p40 was higher in BA compared to that in the non-BA and control groups (P values were 0.036 and <0.0001, resp.) but comparable to that in the neglected BA group. Preoperative IL-12p40 levels in BA patients were significantly higher in successful Kasai compared with failed Kasai and a cutoff level of 547.47 pg/ml could predict the successful outcome with 87.5% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity. Three-month postoperative IL-12p40 tended to decrease in both the successful and failed groups. In conclusion, preoperative serum IL-12p40 is a potential predictor of Kasai outcome. Serial postoperative measurements may anticipate the failure of an initially successful operation, hence the need for liver transplantation.