miR-122 negatively correlates with liver fibrosis as detected by histology and FibroScan

Figure 1 Correlation between fibrosis stage and liver stiffness measured by transient elastography. r = 0.8; P < 0.01.

Figure 2 Relative miRNA expression in relation to fibrosis stage, detected in the biopsy samples of various etiologic backgrounds. The level of miR-122 is reduced in stage F4 as compared with stage F0 (P < 0.04), analyzed using a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and median test. The upper dotted line indicates twofold elevation in expression; the lower dotted line signifies a one-half reduction of expression.

Figure 3 Correlation of miRNA expression with fibrosis stage, liver stiffness (measured by transient elastography), and alanine aminotransferase levels. A: The negative correlation of miR-122 (r = -0.4; P < 0.01) and miR-221 (r = -0.3; P < 0.03) with fibrosis stage; B: The negative correlation of miR-122 (r = -0.4; P < 0.01) and positive correlation of miR-224 (r = 0.3; P < 0.04) with liver stiffness; C: The positive correlation of miR-21 (r = 0.3; P < 0.04) with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The upper dotted lines indicate twofold elevation in expression; the lower dotted lines signify a one-half reduction of expression.