Elevation of microRNA-214 is associated with progression of liver fibrosis in patients with biliary atresia

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating fibrogenesis in the liver. The current study examined the ability of microRNA-214 (miR-214) level in liver and serum samples obtained from patients with BA to predict progressive liver fibrosis in patients with biliary atresia (BA). Methods We examined miR-214 level in relation to conventional markers of liver fibrosis, with liver and serum samples from BA patients. Fifty-two patients with BA who underwent Kasai portoenterostomy and four control patients underwent liver biopsy. In 28 patients with BA, blood samples were collected to analyze circulating serum miR-214. Results MiR-214 levels in liver tissue were significantly upregulated in patients with BA who had severe liver fibrosis (F3-4) compared to those with none to mild fibrosis (F0-2), whereas suppressors-of-fused homolog (Sufu) mRNA levels were significantly suppressed in F3-4. Serum miR-214 levels were significantly higher in patients with F3-4 compared with F0-2. Area under the curve analysis showed that the serum miR-214 cut-off level for predicting F3-4 was 0.805 (p = 0.0046). Conclusion Hepatic overexpression of miR-214 is associated with progression of liver fibrosis in patients with BA, and the circulating miR-214 level may serve as a non-invasive predictor of liver fibrosis.