Promising miRNA Biomarkers for Predicting the Response to the Interferon Combined Therapy in HCV-4 Egyptian Patients

HCV infection is the major factor for chronic hepatitis. Interferons (IFNs) are large family of 
multifunctional secreted proteins which are used for HCV treatment. Large numbers of Egyptian 
patients are not responding to the combined interferon/ribavirin therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 
class of post transcription regulators that play important role in HCV infection. The current study 
aimed to find a predictive measure for response to interferon therapy using miR-20a, miR-155, 
miR-21 and miR-196b with evaluating MxA gene expression as a positive control for interferon 
action. One hundred patients, 50 responders and 50 non-responders with chronic HCV and 20 
healthy volunteers were included in this study. MiRNAs and MxA-mRNA were isolated from serum 
and blood sequentially and their expression levels were quantified using RT-qPCR. All the 4 
miRNAs; miR-20a, miR-21, miR-155, and miR-196b were up regulated in the serum of the non
responders compared to responders and controls. These data were confirmed by the inhibition of 
MxA-mRNA levels in the blood of the non-responders compared to controls and responders. In 
conclusion, the circulating miRNAs; miR-20a, miR-21, miR-155 and miR-196b in serum can be 
promising biomarkers for predicting the response of HCV-4 Egyptian patients to IFN therapy 
during the combined IFN treatment.