Association of the miR-196a2 C>T and miR-499 A>G polymorphisms with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma risk: an updated meta-analysis

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.

MicroRNA-Related Polymorphisms in Infectious Diseases-Tiny Changes With a Huge Impact on Viral Infections and Potential Clinical Applications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded sequences of non-coding RNA with approximately 22 nucleotides that act posttranscriptionally on gene expression. miRNAs are important gene regulators in physiological contexts, but they also impact the pathogenesis of various diseases. The role of miRNAs in viral infections has been explored by different authors in both population-based as well as in functional studies. However, the effect of miRNA polymorphisms on the susceptibility to viral infections and on the clinical course of these diseases is still an emerging topic. Thus, this review will compile and organize the findings described in studies that evaluated the effects of genetic variations on miRNA genes and on their binding sites, in the context of human viral diseases. In addition to discussing the basic aspects of miRNAs biology, we will cover the studies that investigated miRNA polymorphisms in infections caused by hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Epstein–Barr virus, and human papillomavirus. Finally, emerging topics concerning the importance of miRNA genetic variants will be presented, focusing on the context of viral infectious diseases.

MiR-146a and miR-196a-2 polymorphisms are associated with hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Previous studies have investigated the role of miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-196a-2 rs11614913 polymorphisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility, but the results are contradictory and few specifically studied hepatitis virus-related HCC. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between these two polymorphisms and hepatitis virus-related HCC risk. We performed a systematical search in EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Wanfang databases as of 25th November, 2016. Finally, we assessed 14 studies involving 3852 cases and 5275 controls. Our results suggest that rs2910164 has a significant association with increased hepatitis virus-related HCC risk in allelic, homozygous, heterozygous, and dominant models (CG+GG vs. CC: OR=1.22, 95% CI=1.06-1.39, P=0.004), particularly in Chinese and HBV-related HCC subgroups. Conversely, rs11614913 was associated with lower hepatitis virus-related HCC risk in the overall analysis under allelic (T vs. C: OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.74-0.98, P=0.02), homozygous, dominant and recessive models. Subgroup analyses showed decreased risk in Chinese, HBV- and HCV-related HCC. In conclusion, miR-146a C>G (rs2910164) can increase HBV-related HCC risk while miR-196a-2 C>T (rs11614913) may decrease the risk of HBV- and HCV-related HCC, especially in the Chinese population. Further, large-scale studies including other races are required to confirm these findings.

MiR-196a2 and lung cancer in Chinese non-smoking females: a genetic association study and expression analysis

Background

The common polymorphism rs11614913 in miR-196a2 might be associated with lung cancer risk for non-smoking females in northeast China.

Methods

The genotypes of rs11614913 in miR-196a2 were determined by a case-control study including 1003 patients with lung cancer and 1003 healthy controls. The tissues were detected to assess the miRNA expression. Secondary structures of miR-196a2 were predicted.

Results

There was a significant association between miR-196a2 rs11614913 and lung cancer risk in Chinese non-smoking females. Individuals carrying TC or CC genotype had increased risk of lung cancer compared with TT genotype (adjusted risks were 1.63 and 1.67). The C allele was associated with a higher risk of lung cancer with a significant risk of 1.27. The similar significant results were also found in lung adenocarcinoma. There was a significant association between miR-196a2 expression and lung cancer risk (t=2.594, P=0.012). The relative expression of miR-196a2 was significantly higher for CC genotype comparing with the CT or TT genotype in tumor tissues (P values were all 0.003). The optimal free energies were different for T allele and C allele.

Conclusions

The polymorphism rs11614913 in miR-196a2 may be associated with lung cancer risks in Chinese non-smoking females through affecting miR-196a2 expression and secondary structure.

pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a case-control study in a Chinese population

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. miR-34 induces changes of its downstream genes, and plays a key role in altering the apoptotic cycle and pathways of downstream cells, and finally influences the development of cancer. We assessed the relationship of the pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism with hepatocellular carcinoma risk in a Chinese population. During the period of January 2014 and December 2015, a total of 164 HCC patients and 305 healthy controls were recruited from the Inner Mongolia People's Hospital. Genotyping of the pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 was determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Using χ² test, we observed that HCC patients were likely to have a habit of alcohol consumption (χ² = 10.24, P = 0.001) and infect with HBV or HCV (χ² = 128.17, P < 0.001). In co-dominant model, the CC genotype of pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 had a significant higher risk of HCC as compared with the TT genotype, and the corresponding adjusted OR (95% CI) was 4.14 (1.91-9.75). In dominant model, we observed that the TC+CC genotype were associated with an increased risk of HCC in comparison to the TT genotype (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.17-2.55). In recessive model, the CC genotype was correlated with an elevated risk of HCC when compared with the TT+TC genotype (OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.62-8.54). The pri-miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of HCC in the Chinese population examined. Further large-scale and multi-center studies are required to confirm these results.

Genetic polymorphisms -137 (rs187238) and -607 (rs1946518) in the interleukin-18 promoter may not be associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma

This study meta-analyzed the literature on possible association of polymorphisms -137 (rs187238) and -607 (rs1946518) in the interleukin-18 (IL-18) promoter with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The analysis included 8 case-control studies on the -137 polymorphism (1,318 cases, 2,254 controls) and 7 case-control studies on the -607 polymorphism (1,262 cases, 1,696 controls). None of the five genetic models suggested a significant association between the -137 polymorphism and HCC risk: allelic model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.34, P = 0.97; recessive model, OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.65-1.46, P = 0.91; dominant model, OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.73-2.52, P = 0.34; homozygous model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.65-1.49, P = 0.95; heterozygous model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.66-1.48, P = 0.94. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analyses of Asian patients, Chinese patients, or patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. Similar results were also obtained for the -607 polymorphism across the entire study population as well as in the three subgroups. The available evidence suggests no significant association of the -137 or -607 polymorphisms with risk of HCC in general or specifically of HBV-related HCC. These conclusions should be verified in large, well-designed studies.