Potential biomarkers in NASH-induced liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma: A preliminary work on roles of exosomal miR-182, miR-301a, and miR-373

Introduction: Recent studies have published the roles of exosomal miRNAs in the pathogenesis of various type of malignancies and can be developed as potential biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to identify the expression level of selected miRNAs (miR-182, miR-301a, and miR-373) in exosomes of the serum and ascitic fluid in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related liver cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed to identify potential miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of HCC. Unpaired serum and ascitic fluid were obtained from 52 patients with NASH related liver cirrhosis (n=26 for each group of with and without HCC). Exosomal miRNA was isolated from all samples. Expression levels of miR-182, miR-301a and miR-373 were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Serum-derived exosomal mir-182, miR-30 la and miR-373 were significantly up-regulated with fold change of 1.77, 2.52, and 1.67 (p< 0.05) respectively in NASH-induced liver cirrhosis with HCC as compared to NASH-induced liver cirrhosis without IICC. We identified the expression levels of ascitic fluid-derived exosomal mir-182, miR-301a, and miR-373 were significantly up-regulated with fold change of 1.6, 1.94 and 2.13 respectively in NASH-induced liver cirrhosis with HCC as compared to NASH-induced liver cirrhosis without MCC (p <0.05). There was poor correlation expression of all the selected exosomal miRNA between serum- and ascitic fluid-derived in HCC group. Conclusions: This preliminary data showed significant increase in the expression levels of exosomal miR-182, miR-301a and miR-373 in both serum and ascetic fluid suggesting the possible roles of these miRNAs as circulating biomarkers for NASH-induced liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma.