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

oleh: Jyun-Yi Wu, Yi-Shan Tsai, Chia-Chen Li, Ming-Lun Yeh, Ching-I Huang, Chung-Feng Huang, Jia-Ning Hsu, Meng-Hsuan Hsieh, Yo-Chia Chen, Ta-Wei Liu, Yi-Hung Lin, Po-Cheng Liang, Zu-Yau Lin, Wan-Long Chuang, Ming-Lung Yu, Chia-Yen Dai

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-11-01

Deskripsi

The regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in HBV-associated HCC pathogenesis has been reported previously. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum miR-125b and liver fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment. Baseline serum miR-125b levels and other relevant laboratory data were measured for 124 patients who underwent 12-month NA therapy. Post-12-month NA therapy, serum miR-125, platelet, AST, and ALT levels were measured again for post-treatment FIB-4 index calculation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index. Results showed that baseline miR-125b levels were inversely correlated with the post-treatment FIB-4 index (ρ = −0.2130, <i>p</i> = 0.0082). In logistic regression analyses, age (OR = 1.17, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), baseline platelet level (OR = 0.98, <i>p</i> = 0.0032), and ALT level (OR = 1.00, <i>p</i> = 0.0241) were independent predictors of FIB-index > 2.9 post-12-month treatment. The baseline miR-125b level was not significantly associated with a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index (<i>p</i> = 0.8992). In 59 patients receiving entecavir (ETV) monotherapy, the alternation of serum miR-125b in 12 months and age were substantially associated with a higher post-treatment FIB-4 index (>2.9), suggesting that miR-125b is a reliable biomarker for detecting early liver fibrosis under specific anti-HBV NA treatments (e.g., ETV).