Baseline serum miR‑125b levels predict virologic response to nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in patients with HBeAg‑positive chronic hepatitis B

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of baseline serum microRNA (miRNA)-125b for nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 66 patients with Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB received NAs therapy for 144 weeks. Serum miRNA-125b levels were measured at the baseline, while hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured throughout treatment. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of treatment response. The results indicated that baseline serum miR-125b (OR=4.377; P=0.006), HBsAg (OR=0.120; P=0.010), ALT >5× upper limit of normal (ULN; OR=11.726; P=0.018) and undetectable HBV DNA at week 24 (OR=7.828; P=0.021) were independent predictors of complete response (CR) at 144 weeks (CR is defined as HBV DNA <500 IU/ml and HBeAg seroconversion). The baseline serum miRNA-125b combined with baseline HBsAg level yielded an area under the receiver-operating curve of 0.852 in discriminating CR and non-CR at 144 week. The combination of baseline miRNA-125b ≥1.7 and ALT >5× ULN had a positive predictive value 80% for CR at 144 weeks. The combination of baseline miRNA-125b ≥1.7 and HbsAg ≤4.4 (log10 IU/ml) had a negative predictive value of CR at 144 weeks of 100%. Together, these results suggest that baseline miRNA-125b is a reliable predictor of HBeAg seroconversion following NAs treatment. The present study may be used as a basis for the use of baseline miRNA-125b to optimize treatment prior to NAs therapy.

Long non-coding RNA WAC antisense RNA 1 mediates hepatitis B virus replication <em>in vitro</em> by reinforcing miR-192-5p/ATG7-induced autophagy

“…Recently, serum miRNA-125b was verified to be related to serum HBV DNA and HBsAg levels in CHB patients. 27 Our results, which suggest that the downregulation of lncRNA WAC-AS1 reduces replication of HBV and inhibits HepG2 2.15 cell autophagy, are in line with this report. Our conclusion is supported by the observation of decreased pgRNA, HBV DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg levels; reduced beclin-1 and LC3 expression; increased p62 levels; and decreased autophagosome numbers in lncRNA WAC-AS1- shRNA-transfected cells, along with the observation of opposite results seen in miR-192-5p inhibitor-transfected cells.…”

Baseline Circulating miR-125b Levels Predict a High FIB-4 Index Score in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients after Nucleos(t)ide Analog Treatment

“…Their results indicated that the baseline serum miR-125b level is an independent predictor of a complete response (defined as HBV DNA < 500 IU/mL and HBeAg seroconversion). This finding suggests that baseline miRNA-125b is a satisfying biomarker for HBeAg seroconversion following 144-week NA treatment [ 14 ].…”

“…Few studies have focused on the role of miR-125b in hepatic inflammation [ 13 ]. Zhou et al demonstrated its ability as a reliable biomarker to predict the virologic response to nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment, which has become the standard of care for patients with CHB [ 14 ]. For HCC, studies have described the regulatory role of miRNAs in HBV-associated HCC pathogenesis [ 8 , 15 ].…”

Expression and significance of urinary microRNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B

“…[39] Serum miR-125b was correlated with HBV replication and liver necroinflammation, [40] and miR-125b levels predict virologic response to nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB. [41] MiR-125b inhibits HBV expression through targeting of the SCNN1A [42] and miR-125b also inhibits the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg. [43] Serum miR-146a-5p was highly expressed in HBV-infected patients.…”