Alterations of miR-122-levels in biopsies and serum of chronic hepatitis C patients

Aims: microRNAs (miRNAs) are short regulatory RNA that result in posttranscriptional gene repression and are involved in cell differentiation and proliferation. Our in vitro studies provide evidence that miRNA are also involved in mechanisms of fibrosis as a result of chronic liver disease. Previous data has shown that in response to HCV infection interferon can induce certain cellular microRNAs such as miR-1, miR-30, miR-448 in human hepatoma cells. Additionally, miR-122, repressed by interferon treatment, has been identified as a highly liver abundant microRNA, facilitating HCV replication. Therefore, we studied miR-122 expression profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.