Circulating miR-122 as a potential biomarker of liver disease.

Abstract

AIM:

Expression profiles indicate that miR-122 is specifically and abundantly expressed in liver. This study sought to determine miR-122 plasma concentrations in 15 apparently healthy subjects and 30 patients with liver disease, and clarify whether plasma miR-122 correlates with ALT.

MATERIALS & METHODS:

miR-122 was measured by quantitative PCR in healthy volunteers and patients with liver disease.

RESULTS:

ALT was increased in two out of 15 (13%) apparently healthy subjects and 17 out of 30 (57%) liver disease patients. In healthy subjects, median miR-122 plasma concentration was 51.7 copies/20 pg RNA (range 16.0-312.0). In liver disease patients, median miR-122 was significantly elevated to 202.3 copies/20 pg RNA (range 20.9-1160.0; Mann-Whitney test between median concentrations; p = 0.0016).

CONCLUSION:

This small proof-of-principle study suggests that miR-122 may be a potential plasma biomarker of liver damage.

• Authors: Omar F Laterza, Mitchell G Scott, Philip W Garrett-Engele, Kevin M Korenblat, Christina M Lockwood
• Journal: Biomarkers in medicine (Biomark Med) Vol. 7 Issue 2 Pg. 205-10 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1752-0371 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23547815 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• MIRN122 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adult
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Diseases (blood, diagnosis, genetics)
• Male
• MicroRNAs (blood, genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Up-Regulation