The Correlation between miR-122 and Lipoprotein Lipase Expression in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract

Chronic HCV infection is strictly associated with host lipid/lipoprotein metabolism disorders. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between viral load, lipid profile, IFNγ, and the expression of miR-122 and LPL in the liver and PBMCs. Sera, PBMCs, and matching liver biopsies from 17 chronic hepatitis C patients were enrolled in this study. Collected data shows that liver (not PBMCs) miR-122 expression is positively correlated with HCV RNA load and IFNγ and reversely with LPL expression in CHC patients. Presented, for the first time, in this study, the reverse correlation of miR-122 and LPL expression in liver; miR-122 and LPL seem to be important factors of CHC infection.