Exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers for viral replication in tofacitinib-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients with hepatitis C
Abstract Notwithstanding recent advances in direct antiviral specialists (DAAs) for hepatitis C infection (HCV), it is yet a pervasive overall issue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with HCV infection. However, it remains unknown how miRNAs respon...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50963-y |
| Summary: | Abstract Notwithstanding recent advances in direct antiviral specialists (DAAs) for hepatitis C infection (HCV), it is yet a pervasive overall issue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with HCV infection. However, it remains unknown how miRNAs respond following biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) and targeted synthetic DMARD (tsDMARD) treatment in HCV patients with RA. We prospectively recruited RA patients taking anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors rituximab (RTX) and tofacitinib. The serum hepatitis C viral load was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR before and 6 months after bDMARD and tsDMARD therapy. HCV RNA replication activity was measured using an HCV-tricistronic replicon reporter system, and quantitative analysis of hsa-mir-122-5p and hsa-mir-155-5p in patients was performed using quantitative PCR. HCV RNA replication in hepatocytes was not affected by tofacitinib or TNF-α inhibitor treatment. Hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p were significantly expanded in RA patients with HCV as compared with those without HCV. We observed a dramatic increase in hsa-mir-122-5p and a decrease in hsa-mir-155-5p expression levels in patients taking RTX in comparison with other treatments. Finally, a reduction in hsa-mir-122-5p and an increase in hsa-mir-155-5p were observed in a time-dependent manner after tofacitinib and DAA therapy in RA-HCV patients. These results showed that hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p were significantly increased in RA-HCV patients as compared with those without HCV after taking tofacitinib. Hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p may be potential biomarkers for treatment efficacy in RA patients with HCV. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |