MicroRNAs as potential markers of parenteral nutrition associated liver disease in adult patients

Abstract

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is a severe complication in patients completely dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN). The gold diagnostic standard, liver biopsy, is associated with significant health risk and therefore its use is limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding regulatory RNA molecules with highly tissue-specific expression and the secreted miRNAs may serve as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of a panel of specific miRNAs associated with liver diseases of different origin in PN-dependent adult patients in order to design miRNA panel enabling to precise monitoring of PNALD progression. Twelve PN-dependent patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) were monitored on three/four-month basis for up to 24 months. Forty-five age- and sex-matched subjects without any known liver pathology served as controls. Specific miRNAs expression was determined by RT-qPCR using TaqMan probes (Thermofisher). Liver function test parameters were determined in certified clinical laboratories. Six of the tested miRNAs exhibited significantly altered expression compared with healthy controls, three of them (MIR122, MIR1273g, and MIR500a) were upregulated while three were down-regulated (MIR505, MIR199a, MIR139). MIR122 positively correlated with serum AST and ALT activities while MIR1273g positively correlated with serum CRP concentration and GGT activity. MIR505, MIR199a, and MIR139 negatively correlated with serum GGT activity. Fluctuation of these parameters well paralleled serum miRNA concentrations in all patients throughout the whole observation period. We identified six miRNAs whose serum concentrations are significantly altered in PN-dependent patients with PNALD and correlate with markers of inflammation, cholestasis or hepatic injury. Their reliability as markers of PNALD progression needs to be further evaluated.