Objective: This study aimed to perform screening and bioinformatic analysis of microRNA (miRNA) molecules associated with immune clearance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CHB patients and healthy individuals were collected and detected by microarray. The target genes of differentially expressed miRNA molecules were predicted using three databases. Their molecular pathways and functions were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.
Results: Compared with healthy individuals, 52 differentially expressed miRNA molecules were found in PBMCs of CHB patients, of which 33 were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated. A total of 354 target genes were predicted in up-regulated miRNA molecules, and 1935 target genes were predicted in down-regulated miRNA molecules. MiRNA-mRNA network analysis showed that some target genes might be regulated, and constituted complex molecular networks with hsa-miR-520d-5p, hsa-miR-106a-5p, hsa-miR-30a-5p, and hsa-miR-29b-3p. Gene ontology and pathway analyses showed that several molecular pathways might be affected by up- or down-regulated miRNA molecules.
Conclusion: Abnormal expression of multiple miRNA molecules in PBMCs of CHB patients might be involved in immune clearance pathogenesis through the regulation of multiple molecular pathways and target genes.
Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; immune clearance; microRNA.