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Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2019 Feb;23(2):118-123. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2018.0092.
Increased Levels of miR-155 are Related to Higher T-Cell Activation in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.
Fang J1, Zhuge L2, Rao H3, Huang S2, Jin L2, Li J2.
Author information
1
1 Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
2
2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
3
3 Department of Nursing, School of Medicine, Quzhou College of Technology, Quzhou China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an important regulator of immune responses in humans. However, its role in T-cell activation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Eighty-one patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 77 HBV carriers, and 51 healthy controls were recruited. HBV DNA and serologic tests were carried out for each subject. Levels of miR-155 in peripheral blood were detected by quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction. Immune activation of T-cells was determined by detection of surface molecules CD38 and HLA-DR using flow cytometry.
RESULTS:
We found higher miR-155 levels in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of CHB patients than HBV carriers or healthy controls (p < 0.01), moreover, miR-155 levels in the CD8+ T-cells of HBV carriers were higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). Furthermore, immune activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in CHB patients was much higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION:
Our findings suggest that miR-155 expression positively correlates with T-cell activation, especially in CHB patients, and is a potential biomarker for immune activation and disease progression in HBV infection.
KEYWORDS: