Evaluation of miR-122 level in chronic HBV infection and liver cirrhosis patients

MicroRNA is a kind of small RNAs with about 22 nucleotide length; it is expressed in most eukaryotes and acts as a regulating key of gene expression through attaching to the end of 3’mRNA target. Most popular miRNAs are found in liver that are extensively important in determining the biological and clinical functions. MicroRNA, in host cells, may affect on replication of viruses positively or negatively. MicroRNA processing mechanism and inactivating RISC complex could affect on virus replication. In this study, miR-122 expression was examined and compared in three patient groups with chronic hepatitis, hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis and healthy group. In this study, 108 samples were taken in 5 ml complete blood with EDTA from each participant. Extracting RNA by RNX-plus was done based on manufacturer protocol; and evaluating miRNA expression was conducted through Relative real time PCR. The results indicated that miR-122 expression increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis about 1.8 times more than control group which is significant statistically (P < 0.05). According to the results, measuring miR-122 expression may estimate the disease progress from chronic hepatitis B to hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis ; and it can be used as a biomarker that needs more investigation with more samples.