rs3746444 Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Evidence from Published Studies

Rs3746444 T>C locus in miR-499 increases the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis 14812 subjects

BACKGROUND

Recently, many investigations have suggested that the rs3746444 T>C locus in the microRNA (miR)-499 gene may contribute to the occurrence of cancer. However, reports on the association between rs3746444 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are conflicting.

AIM

To further understand and explore the potential correlation between the single-nucleotide polymorphism of rs3746444 and the incidence of HCC.

METHODS

In this meta-analysis, we obtained electronic literature by searching the PubMed, Embase and Chinese BioMedical Disc databases (through May 20, 2022). All eligible case-control, prospective cohort or nested case-control studies with sufficient data for calculating the odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were included.

RESULTS

Ultimately, a total of 17 independent studies were included. We identified that rs3746444 was associated with the development of HCC (C vs T: P = 0.019 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In Asian individuals, rs3746444 was associated with susceptibility to HCC (C vs T: P = 0.013 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In addition, this study identified that the miR-499 rs3746444 locus was associated with susceptibility to HCC in the normal/healthy control subgroup (C vs T: P = 0.034 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

In summary, this meta-analysis highlights that rs3746444 in the miR-499 gene is involved in the occurrence of HCC, especially in Asian individuals.

Investigation of the Association of miRNA-499, miRNA-146a, miRNA-196a2 Loci with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Case-Control Study Involving 1507 Subjects

microRNAs' (miRNAs) loci may influence hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Many recent studies have assessed the relationship between miRNA-499, miRNA-146a, and miRNA-196a2 loci and HCC risk. However, the observed results are conflicting. A total of 584 HCC patients and 923 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. The correlation of miRNA-499 rs3746444, miRNA-146a rs2910164, and miRNA-196a2 rs11614913 with HCC development was assessed. In the <53-year-old subgroup, a correlation of the rs2910164 locus with HCC risk was found (GG/CG vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.011, GG vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.021 and CG vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.027). The association between miRNA-146a rs2910164 and the risk of HCC was also found in the never smoking (GG/CG vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.011 and CG vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.018). Using false-positive report probability method and power value, we identified that miRNA-146a rs2910164 conferred a risk to HCC in the <53-year-old and never-smoking subgroups. In conclusion, this study indicates rs2910164 may be a risk factor for HCC, especially in the <53-year-old and never-smoking subgroups.

Functional miR-146a, miR-149, miR-196a2 and miR-499 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: An updated meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of miRNAs play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To evaluate the association between four common miRNAs (miR-146a rs2910164; miR-149 rs2292832; miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-499 rs3746444) and HCC risk, an updated meta-analysis was performed.

METHODS

32 studies including 12,405 HCC cases and 15,056 controls were used for this meta-analysis. There were 22 studies with 7894 cases and 10,221 controls for miR-146a, 9 studies with 2684 HCC cases and 3464 controls for miR-149, 17 studies with 6937 cases and 8217 controls for miR-196a2 and 16 studies with 4158 cases and 5264 controls for miR-499. Odds radios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the HCC risk.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis showed that miR-146a was associated with HCC risk under the heterozygote model (OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.03-1.17, P=0.007), whereas no association was found in Caucasian using all genetic models. For miR-196a2 polymorphism, an increased risk of HCC was observed based on four models (C vs T: OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.05-1.26, P=0.003; CC vs TT: OR=1.35, 95%CI=1.12-1.63, P=0.002; CC+CT vs TT: OR=1.20, 95%CI=1.04-1.37, P=0.01 and CC vs CT+TT: OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.06-1.42, P=0.006). Association of miR-499 with HCC risk was only detected in the subgroup of studies which did not use polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) under the allelic, heterozygote and dominant models. However, negative results were obtained for the association of miR-149 and HCC susceptibility.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that miR-146a and miR-196a2 polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of HCC, especially in Asian.