P-51 SERUM MICRORNA EXPRESSION ACCORDING TO THE PRESENCE OF LIVER DISEASE AND SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION

Introduction and Objectives

Covid-19 presents as a multisystemic disease with described liver impact. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non- coding RNAs which regulate different pathological processes, including hepatic conditions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to investigate serum miRNAs expression in patients with liver diseases according to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Materials and Methods

Serum were obtained from 70 individuals from 4 groups: (i) hepatitis/Covid-19 (n=11); (ii) hepatitis-only (n=20); (iii) Covid- 19-only (n=19) and (iv) control subjects without both infections (n=20). MiRNAs were isolated from the samples using a commercial extraction kit. After reverse transcription, three miRNAs (mir122, mir143 and mir223) and exogenous control (mir39) were evaluated using relative quantification by real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was made using GraphPad Prism 9.5.1 software.

Results

There was a higher expression of mir122 in the liver disease group when compared to other groups. Statistical significance was founded in the lower expression of mir143 for hepatitis/covid group when compared to control (relative quantification average=0.55 vs. 2.10, p=0.0094) and covid-19-only (relative quantification average=0.55 vs. 3.19, p=0.0037). Mir223 showed a lower expression in groups composed of liver patients, with or without covid-19. Also, a statistical significance was observed for hepatitis-only group when compared to control (relative quantification average=1.1 vs. 7.52, p=0.0406) and covid-19-only (relative quantification average=1.1 vs. 12.94, p=0.0268). The same was suggested for hepatitis/covid-19 group when compared to control (relative quantification average=1.1 vs. 7.52, p=0.0009) and covid-19-only (relative quantification average=1.1 vs. 12.94, p=0.0006).

Conclusions

The different expression of these miRNAs has already been described in association with liver conditions. The description of the different expression of these markers will contribute to future studies that will evaluate associations with predispositions to clinical worsening, inflammation, or therapeutic failure in liver patients with covid-19.