Decreased levels of microRNA miR-122 in individuals with hepatitis C responding poorly to interferon therapy

M Sarasin-Filipowicz, J Krol, I Markiewicz, MH Heim… - Nature medicine, 2009 - nature.com
M Sarasin-Filipowicz, J Krol, I Markiewicz, MH Heim, W Filipowicz
Nature medicine, 2009nature.com
Several microRNAs (miRNAs), including liver-specific miR-122, have been implicated in the
control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication and its response to interferon (IFN) in
human hepatoma cells. Our analysis of liver biopsies from subjects with chronic hepatitis C
(CHC) undergoing IFN therapy revealed no correlation of miR-122 expression with viral load
and markedly decreased pretreatment miR-122 levels in subjects who had no virological
response during later IFN therapy; other investigated miRNAs showed only limited changes …
Abstract
Several microRNAs (miRNAs), including liver-specific miR-122, have been implicated in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication and its response to interferon (IFN) in human hepatoma cells. Our analysis of liver biopsies from subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) undergoing IFN therapy revealed no correlation of miR-122 expression with viral load and markedly decreased pretreatment miR-122 levels in subjects who had no virological response during later IFN therapy; other investigated miRNAs showed only limited changes. These data have implications for the prospect of targeting miRNAs for CHC therapy.
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