MicroRNA dysregulation in schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Background

MicroRNAs are involved in gene regulation in several common liver diseases and may play an essential role in activating hepatic stellate cells. The role of these post-transcriptional regulators in schistosomiasis needs to be further studied in populations from endemic areas for a better understanding of the disease, the development of new therapeutic approaches, and the use of biomarkers for the prognosis of schistosomiasis.

Areas covered

We performed a systematic review to describe the main human microRNAs identified in non-experimental studies associated with aggravation of the disease in people infected with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum). Structured searches were carried out in PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Directory of Open Access Journals, Scielo, Medcarib, and Global Index Medicus databases without time and language restrictions. This is a systematic review following the guidelines of the PRISMA platform.

Expert Opinion

The miR-146a-5p, miR-150-5p, let-7a-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-92a- 3p, and miR-532-5p are associated with liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis caused by S. japonicum, revealing that these miRNAs that have been shown to be associated with liver fibrosis are good targets for new studies that evaluate their potential as a biomarker or even treating liver fibrosis in schistosomiasis.

KEYWORDS:

• Bilharziasis
• biomarker
• hepatic fibrosis
• Katayama fever
• MicroRNAs
• miRNA
• schistosomiasis

Article highlights

• The expression levels of miR-146a-5p, miR-150-5p, let-7a-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-532-5p in serum and exosomes were significantly lower in patients with fibrosis than in those without fibrosis.

• Although the expression levels of miR-150-5p were upregulated in liver tissue, the miR-150-5p was significantly lower in serum and exosomes in patients infected with S. japonicum, but the mechanisms responsible for this difference have not been elucidated.

• The expression level of miR-92a- 3p in the exosome was positively correlated when comparing patients with fibrosis to those without fibrosis.

• No studies on infection by S. mansoni were found in this review comparing human microRNAs in liver disease.

• The expression levels of miR-146a-5p, miR-150-5p, let-7a-5p, let-7d-5p, miR-532-5p in serum and exosomes were significantly lower in patients with fibrosis than in those without fibrosis.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Funding code 001. It was also funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEP) – Finance cod: IBPG-1686-2.02/19.