Circulating MicroRNAs in Plasma of Hepatitis B e Antigen Positive Children Reveal Liver-Specific Target Genes

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Hepatitis B e antigen positive (HBeAg-positive) children face significant risks of severe liver complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Host immune responses to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hepatocytes are implicated in liver damage.
• MicroRNAs are hypothesized to mediate the complex interplay between HBV and the host immune system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify microRNAs with abnormal plasma expression levels in HBeAg-positive children.
• To investigate microRNAs that target liver-specific genes, potentially influencing HBV pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Revisiting previous microRNA plasma screening data from HBeAg-positive, HBeAg-negative children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and healthy controls.
• Bioinformatics analysis to select microRNAs targeting liver-specific genes.
• Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation using plasma samples from 34 HBeAg-positive, 26 HBeAg-negative, and 60 healthy control children.

Main Results:

• Thirteen microRNAs exhibited aberrant plasma expression in HBeAg-positive children and targeted liver-specific genes.
• Three specific microRNAs were found to be upregulated, while one was downregulated in HBeAg-positive children compared to HBeAg-negative and healthy controls.
• Plasma levels of these microRNAs were consistent between HBeAg-negative and healthy control groups.

Conclusions:

• The identified microRNAs may play a role in the progression of CHB in children.
• Further functional studies are necessary to fully understand the role of these microRNAs in the immunopathogenesis of childhood CHB.