Circulating microRNA‐122 levels are important predictor of hepatitis B virus surface antigen seroclearance

Abstract

It is currently unclear what impact serum microRNA-122 (miR-122) levels have on clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) in HBV-infected patients who had not received antiviral therapy. The current study evaluated the impact of serum miR-122 levels on HBsAg seroclearance in 367 consecutive HBV-infected patients who had not received antiviral therapy between their initial and last visit, and investigated the predictive factors of HBsAg seroclearance. Cumulative HBsAg seroclearance rates were 13.5%, 32.0%, and 37.4% after 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The yearly incidence of HBsAg seroclearance over the investigated 30-year period was 1.25%. A significant and strong correlation was observed between serum miR-122 and HBsAg levels. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between serum miR-122 levels and the levels of HBV DNA, hepatitis B e-antigen, and HBV core-related antigen. The HBsAg seroclearance rate in patients with a <1.0-fold change of serum miR-122 levels was significantly higher than in those with a ≥1.0-fold change. Multivariate analysis identified age (≥30 years), HBV DNA levels (<2.2 log U/mL), HBV genotype (non-C), and serum miR-122 levels (<1.0-fold change) as significant predictors of HBsAg seroclearance. Our results indicated that serum miR-122 level is an important predictor of HBsAg seroclearance in Japanese patients who do not receive antiviral therapy. Understanding the complexity of the interactions among various virus-related and host-related factors could potentially help in the design of new therapies that enhance HBsAg seroclearance.

Hepatitis B-related outcomes following direct-acting antiviral therapy in Taiwanese patients with chronic HBV/HCV co-infection

“…For patients with HBsAg seroclearance, we observed persistently lower serial levels of miR-122 and miR-125b, as observed in previous studies. 35,36 The correlation between lower serum miR-122 levels, and lower HBsAg and HBV DNA levels suggest superior host immune control in this subgroup. 35,36 Increased IP-10 levels have been found in patients with chronic HCV, which reflects the exhausted and inactive T-cell and type I IFN responses.…”

“…35,36 The correlation between lower serum miR-122 levels, and lower HBsAg and HBV DNA levels suggest superior host immune control in this subgroup. 35,36 Increased IP-10 levels have been found in patients with chronic HCV, which reflects the exhausted and inactive T-cell and type I IFN responses. 37 A rapid decline of IP-10 levels after DAA treatment without parallel changes in functional interferon-c HCV-specific T-cell responses suggests a reduction in broad immune activation without early recovery of HCV-specific antiviral T-cell responses after HCV eradication.…”

Circulating miR-122 Is a Predictor for Virological Response in CHB Patients With High Viral Load Treated With Nucleos(t)ide Analogs

“…Given the complex methods of detecting miR-122 in liver, circulating miR-122 level displays its potential as a specific biomarker. In HBV-infected patients without any antiviral therapy, lower serum miR-122 levels exhibited a higher spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance rate (Akuta et al, 2018).…”

Identification of Liver and Plasma microRNAs in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus infection

“…In contrast to the current study, it was previously shown that plasma miR-122-5p expression levels were associated with a virological response in CHB after NA treatment ( Wu et al., 2019 ). However, this study lacked an essential untreated control group, as another study showed that plasma miR-122-5p is an independent predictor of HBsAg seroclearance in patients who had not received therapy ( Akuta et al., 2018 ). For miR-320a and miR-625-3p a positive association with baseline plasma HBV-DNA levels was observed, however no direct relationship between these miRNAs and HBV has been described.…”