Significance of expression of selected miRNAs in the diagnosis of hepatological complications of Epstein-Barr virus infection in children

Justyna Moppert; Krzysztof Domagalski; Małgorzata Pawłowska

doi:10.5114/ceh.2023.130624

Significance of expression of selected miRNAs in the diagnosis of hepatological complications of Epstein-Barr virus infection in children

Clin Exp Hepatol. 2023 Sep;9(3):279-285. doi: 10.5114/ceh.2023.130624. Epub 2023 Aug 22.

Authors

Justyna Moppert^{1

2}, Krzysztof Domagalski³, Małgorzata Pawłowska^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.
² Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Voivodeship Infectious Observation Hospital in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
³ Department of Immunology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland.

Abstract

Aim of the study: To assess the expression of selected miRNAs as predictive factors of hepatological complications in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected children.

Material and methods: This study included 68 children infected with EBV aged 1 to 18 years hospitalised between 01.12.2018 and 31.12.2020 in the Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Hepatology. The expression of 5 miRNAs (miR-122-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-26b-5p, miR-199a-5p) was analysed by real-time PCR using the TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix kit.

Results: In the group of EBV-infected children, statistically significantly higher expression for miR-21-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-26b-5p and miR-34a-5p was confirmed. In a group of 54 children diagnosed with hepatitis, along with an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and g-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activity, an increase in expression of miR-21-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-26b-5p, miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-5p was observed.

Conclusions: Increased expression of miR-21-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-26b-5p, miR-34a-5p and miR-199a-5p in EBV-infected children appears to be a risk factor for hepatological complications progressing to biliary pole defects.

Keywords: EBV infection; hepatitis; miRNAs.