miRNAs in patients with alcoholic liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology Vol. 18; no. 6; p. 283
• Main Authors: Hu, Tengyue, Liu, Chang Hai, Zheng, Yurong, Ji, Jialin, Zheng, Yantong, He, Si-Ke, Wu, Dongbo, Jiang, Wei, Zeng, Qingmin, Zhang, Nannan, Tang, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02-06-2024
• Subjects: Biomarkers - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Humans; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - blood; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; MicroRNAs - blood; MicroRNAs - genetics; miRNA; diagnostic accuracy; miR-122; expression profile; Alcoholic liver disease
• ISSN: 1747-4132
• DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2024.2374470

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses a spectrum of liver conditions, including liver steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis (AH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). microRNAs (miRNAs) have garnered significant interest as potential biomarkers for ALD.
We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) systemically from inception to June 2024. All extracted data was stratified according to the stages of ALD. The vote-counting strategy performed a meta-analysis on miRNA expression profiles.
We included 40 studies. In serum of individuals with alcohol-use vs. no alcohol-use, miRNA-122 and miRNA-155 were upregulated, and miRNA-146a was downregulated. In patients with ALD vs. healthy controls, miRNA-122 and miRNA-155 were also upregulated, and miRNA-146a was downregulated. However, in patients with AH vs. healthy individuals, only the serum miRNA-122 level was upregulated. Due to insufficient data on diagnostic accuracy, we failed to conclude the ability of miRNAs to distinguish between different stages of ALD-related liver fibrosis. The results for ALD-related HCC were also insufficient and controversial.
Circulating miRNA-122 was the most promising biomarker to manage individuals with ALD. More studies were needed for the diagnostic accuracy of miRNAs in ALD.
This protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) with registration number CRD42023391931.