Serum miR-192-5p Levels Predict the Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis B

概要

We examined the association between serum miRNA (-192-5p, -122-3p, -320a and -6126-5p) levels and the efficacy of Peg-IFN for chronic hepatitis B patients. We enrolled 61 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with Peg-IFNα-2a weekly for 48 weeks, of whom 12 had a virological response and 49 did not virological response. A virological response was defined as HBV DNA < 2,000 IU/ml, hepatitis B e antigen negative, and nucleos(t)ide analogue free at 48 weeks after the end of treatment. The non virological response group showed a significantly higher hepatitis B e antigen positivity rate, ALT, HBV DNA, and serum miR-192-5p levels at baseline (P = 0.024, P = 0.020, P = 0.007, P = 0.021, respectively). Serum miR-192-5p levels at 24-weeks after the start of treatment were also significantly higher in the non virological response than the virological response group (P = 0.011). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for predicting virological response showed that miR-192-5p level at baseline was an independent factor (Odds 4.5, P = 0.041). Serum miR-192-5p levels were significantly correlated with the levels of HBV DNA, hepatitis B core-related antigen, and hepatitis B surface antigen (r = 0.484, 0.384 and 0.759, respectively). The serum miR-192-5p level was useful as a biomarker for the therapeutic efficacy of Peg-IFN in chronic hepatitis B treatment.