The significance of micro RNA 21, micro RNA 101and HBx Antigen in chronic hepatitis B virus infections

Abstract

Background: About 240 million individuals have chronic hepatitis virus infections worldwide and 40% of them develop serious complications mainly liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, micro RNAs and HBx antigen are regarded good prognostic indicators of disease progression and possible complications. This study aimed to investigate microRNAs and HBx Ag in CHB patients to find out theirprognostic role in disease progression. Methods: This case-control study conducted on ninety patients had chronic HBV and control groupincluded thirty-one apparently healthy persons.Five ml of blood sample were collected from patients and controls undergone miRNA extraction then quantified by qRT-PCR for micro RNA 101 and 21 expressions, then viral DNA and quantified by HBV Quantification kit, the remaining serum samples were tested by ELISA Kit for HBx Ag. Results: According to HBV DNA copy number, patients were dividedinto 41 (45.6%) had active, and 49 (54.4%) had inactive CHB infection, and there was highly significant correlation between positive HBx Ag and active HBV infection p=0.000.Also there was significant difference in both microRNA 21 and 101 expression between patient and control group and a significant difference in these microRNAs between patients with chronic active and inactive HBV infections Conclusion: Both mico RNA and HBx Ag can be used as good prognostic biomarkers for disease progression and severity.