Inverse relationship between the level of miRNA 148a-3p and both TGF-β1 and FIB-4 in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Biochemistry and biophysics reports Vol. 27; p. 101082
• Main Authors: Dawood, Ashraf A., Saleh, Amany A., Elbahr, Osama, Gohar, Suzy Fawzy, Habieb, Mona S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: FIB-4; HCC; miRNA 148a-3p; RT-PCR; TGF-β1; HCC; TGF-β1; miRNA 148a-3p; FIB-4; RT-PCR
• ISSN: 2405-5808; 2405-5808
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101082

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health burden globally. Dysregulation of miRNA 148a-3p is engaged in carcinogenesis. TGF-β is a profibrogenic cytokine. This study assesses the expression level of miRNA 148a-3p and its relationship with serum TGF-β1 and fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) in Egyptian patients with HCV-associated HCC. and Methods: The study included 72 HCC patients with HCV, 48 HCV cirrhotic patients, and 47 healthy controls. Serum TGF-β1 was assessed by ELISA and the expression of miRNA 148a-3p was measured by RT-PCR. Patients with HCC had lower plasma miRNA 148a-3p, higher serum TGF-β1, and higher FIB-4 levels than patients with cirrhosis and controls. miRNA 148a-3p discriminated HCC either from control (AUC: 0.997, 95.83% sensitivity, 85.11% specificity) or from cirrhosis (AUC: 0.943, 91.67% sensitivity, 81.25% specificity). Moreover, it distinguished metastatic from nonmetastatic patients (AUC: 0.800, 88.89% sensitivity, 60.0% specificity). The decreased miRNA 148a-3p and the increased TGF-β1 levels were related to distant metastasis, multinodular lesions, advanced TNM stage, and BCLC score (C). A negative correlation between miRNA 148a-3p and each of FIB-4 and TGF-β1 was detected. The decreased miRNA 148a-3p was associated with poor overall survival and poor progression-free survival. An inverse relationship between miRNA 148a-3p and both TGF-β1 and FIB-4 was observed, which could be involved in HCC pathogenesis. Moreover, this miRNA is a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC. •Dysregulation of miRNA-148a expression has been associated with HCC carcinogenesis.•miRNA-148a-3p has a negative correlation with FIB4 and TGF-β1.•The decreased miRNA-148a-3p and the increased TGF-β1 were related to distant metastasis.•The decreased miR-148a-3p was associated with poor overall survival and progression-free survival.