نبذة مختصرة : BACKGROUND: The discovery of a cluster of short non-coding RNAs called microRNAs (miRNAs) has become an important event in molecular biology. One of its representatives, miR-122 plays a large role in regulating the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate, lipid metabolism, and iron metabolism in the body. In experimental studies it was shown that in addition to regulatory functions, miR-122 is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C, providing the life cycle of the virus in the cell. The shift of emphasis in the study of miR-122 from basic research into clinical medicine seems to be a promising area of personalized medicine. AIMS: to determine the clinical significance of miR-122 in acute and chronic hepatitis C and associated hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 407 people were examined, including 17 patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC), 158 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 62 patients with HCC associated with hepatitis C. Comparison groups consisted of 84 healthy individuals and 62 patients with clinically pronounced cirrhosis of a non-infectious etiology. In each cohort, the relative miR-122 level was determined in the blood of patients. The analysis was performed in PCR using the Qubit microRNA Assay Kit -100 for the quantitative determination of microRNAs (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). Relative miR-122 expression values were calculated by the formula 2 -CT using U6 snRNA as a reference RNA. RESULTS: The highest miR-122 level in serum was found in patients with AHC at the height of the icteric period. The level of miR-122 showed a direct correlation with the activity of hepatic transaminases in patients with AHC (r = 0.72) and CHC (r = 0.44). An analysis of miR-122 level relative to the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C showed that, as liver fibrosis progresses, the level of miR-122 expression decreases. The decrease in miR-122 expression in patients with severe fibrosis was universal and did not depend on the etiology of the disease. ...
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