MicroRNA-155 is upregulated in ascites in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Abstract

MircoRNA’s (miR) have been recognised as important modulators of gene expression and potential biomarkers. However, they have been rarely investigated in bio fluids apart from blood. We investigated the association of miR-125b and miR-155 with complications of cirrhosis. Ascites was prospectively collected from patients with cirrhosis undergoing paracentesis at our department. miR’s were determined in the supernatant using qPCR and normalized by SV-40. Clinical parameters were assessed at paracentesis and during follow-up. 76 specimens from 72 patients were analysed. MiR’s were not associated to age, sex or aetiology of cirrhosis. MiR-125b levels differed between patients with low and high MELD score, and miR-125b levels showed an inverse correlation to serum creatinine (r2 = −0.23; p = 0.05). MiR-155 was elevated in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (n = 10; p = 0.04). MiR-155 levels differed between patients with and without 30-day survival (p = 0.02). No association of ascites levels of investigated miR’s to size of varices, episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding or hepatorenal syndrome was observed. While miR-125b levels in ascites seem to be associated with liver and renal dysfunction, miR-155 might be implicated in local immune response in SBP.

The Role of MicroRNAs (miRNA 155, miRNA-146b) and Procalcitonin as Novel Markers for the Diagnosis of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

“…In the present study, serum levels of miRNA 155 &146b were found to be significantly higher in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis patients than that in ascites patients not complicated by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis infection. This goes in agreement with the findings of a study by Lutz et al, 2017, who found that miR-155 was significantly upregulated during spontaneous bacterial peritonitis when compared to ascites patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis infection [14]. Moreover, Jiménez-Alesanco et al 2019, initiated a study aimed to specify the different types of exosomes released by the pancreas to the pancreatitis-associated ascitic fluid as well as those circulating in plasma in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis in rats.…”

“…MiRNAs regulate gene expression by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA), leading to posttranscriptional changes by targeting the 3'-UTR of mRNA to down-regulate gene expression [13]. MiRNAs are considered one of the potential biomarkers for a variety of diseases, including inflammatory liver diseases [14], because of their minute size and ability to circulate [15]. They are stable and therefore can be detected in plasma or serum, which made them an uprising potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis.…”

Profiling circulating microRNAs in patients with cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure

“…Regarding liver diseases it has been widely reported that miRNAs are dysregulated in the liver, and they are described as being involved and playing an important role in the pathophysiology of liver diseases [13][14][15][16]. Moreover, they can be used as biomarkers [17][18][19].…”

MicroRNA Interference in Hepatic Host-Pathogen Interactions

“…Data from another study, using blood samples from cirrhosis patients with ascites, showed that miR-155 was a good diagnostic marker for SBP, and a greater efficiency in diagnosis was achieved by detecting both serum CD64 and calprotectin levels [ 62 ]. Furthermore, in studies examining ascites miRNA levels in patients with cirrhosis, miR-155 [ 61 ] and miR-223 [ 106 ] were elevated in patients with SBP, indicating that these miRNAs might be involved in the local immune response during SBP.…”