Serum microRNA-29 levels correlate with disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: To investigate the role of serum microRNA-29 (miR-29) as a biomarker for the prediction of disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, serum miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c levels were measured in patients with chronic HBV infection, and the correlation between serum miR-29 levels and the participants' liver biochemistry, fibrotic stage and necroinflammation grade were also evaluated.

Results: Altogether 91 patients with chronic HBV infection were divided by fibrotic stage into S0/1 (no or mild fibrosis), S2/3 (progressive fibrosis) and S4 (cirrhosis) subgroups, and 12 healthy individuals were also included in the study. Serum miR-29a and miR-29c in S0-3 were significantly higher than those in S4 patients (P < 0.001); however, the difference between S0/1 and S2/3 patients was not significant. miR-29b levels were higher in S0/1 patients than in other patient groups, but did not differ between S2/3 and S4 patients. At fibrotic stages of S0/1 and S2/3, patients with no or mild liver inflammation (G0/1) tended to express higher miR-29 levels than those with advanced inflammation (G2-4) (P > 0.05). miR-29a-c showed significant correlation with alanine transaminase levels (P < 0.05 for miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c) in S0-3 patients. The expression of miR-29 was highest in immune-tolerant patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Serum miR-29 levels are negatively correlated with liver fibrotic stages and necroinflammation grades in patients with chronic HBV infection. miR-29 appears to be a novel biomarkers for predicting disease progression in these patients.