Author/Authors :
Ahmadi Abbas نويسنده Department of Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran , Abdi Mohammad نويسنده Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR
Iran , Advay Shoaib نويسنده Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman
University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , Arabzadeh Ali Mohammad نويسنده Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman
University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract :
Background Co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with
hepatitis virus accelerates liver injury. Recently, there has been paid
more attention to micro RNAs (miRs) as new tools for determination of
liver injury. Previous studies revealed that miR-29 inhibits HIV
replication. It has been also shown that miR-29 decreases in hepatocytes
of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. The present study aimed to
determine the miR-29a-5p expression as a possible diagnostic marker in
HIV- and HIV-HCV co-infected patients. Methods In this cross-sectional
study, blood samples were collected from 40 healthy, 44 HIV-positive,
and 121 HIV/HCV co-infected subjects. Blood CD4+ (cluster of
differentiation 4) cell counts were recorded and serum alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) activities, miR-29a-5p expression, fibrosis-4 (FIB-4),
and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI) index were determined. Data were
analyzed by SPSS version 16 and p value less than 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Results Serum ALT and AST activities and
FIB-4 and APRI were significantly higher in HIV-HCV-co-infection group
than the control group (P< 0.05); however, miR-29a-5p was
down-regulated in patients compared to controls. CD4+ cell counts
markedly decreased in all patients and showed a significant direct
correlation with miR-29a-5p (rs = 0.225, P
< 0.045). The inverse significant correlation of FIB4 and APRI
with miR-29a-5p expression was also seen (rs =
-0.691, P = 0.005 and rs = -0.712,
p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions miR-29a-5p was significantly
down-regulated in HIV- and HIV/HCV-co-infected patients and showed a
correlation with liver injury. Down-regulation of miR-29a-5p was
directly associated with CD4+ cell counts and reversely correlated with
FIB-4 and APRI index. Therefore, the determination of miR-29a-5p may be
useful, among other markers, for diagnosis of these diseases.
