Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MicroRNAs in blood detect liver injury in Labrador retrievers
By Dirksen, K et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2016·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatocyte-derived microRNAs as sensitive serum biomarkers of hepatocellular injury in Labrador retrievers.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Labrador retrievers was studied to find better ways to detect liver damage, especially since symptoms often appear late in the disease. Researchers found that a specific microRNA called miR-122 was significantly higher in dogs with liver injury compared to healthy dogs, making it a more sensitive marker than traditional liver enzyme tests. This means that miR-122 could help veterinarians identify liver problems earlier, potentially leading to more effective treatments. The study suggests that using this new biomarker could improve the chances of catching liver issues before they become severe.
People also search for: Labrador liver disease symptoms · dog liver injury treatment · miR-122 liver test for dogs
Abstract
Common parenchymal liver diseases in dogs include reactive hepatopathies and primary hepatitis (acute or chronic). In chronic hepatitis, there is usually a long subclinical phase. Specific clinical signs become overt only when liver damage is severe and in this phase, treatment is usually less effective. Limited data are available regarding the sensitivity of liver enzyme activity or biomarkers for early detection of subclinical hepatitis. Hepatocyte-derived microRNAs (HDmiRs) were recently identified as promising biomarkers for hepatocellular injury in multiple species. Here, the potential of the HDmiRs miR-122 and miR-148a as sensitive diagnostic biomarkers for hepatocellular injury in Labrador retrievers was investigated. Samples from 66 Labrador retrievers with histologically normal livers, high hepatic copper, and with various forms of liver injury were evaluated for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and microRNA values. Median values of HDmiR-122 were 34.6 times higher in dogs with liver injury and high ALT than in normal dogs (95% confidence intervals [CI], 13-95; P <0.001). HDmiR-122 values were significantly increased in dogs with liver injury and normal ALT (4.2 times; 95% CI, 2-12; P <0.01) and in dogs with high hepatic copper concentrations and unremarkable histopathology (2.9 times; 95% CI, 1.1-8.0; P <0.05). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that miR-122 and miR-148a were both predictors of hepatocellular injury. The sensitivity of miR-122 was 84% (95% CI, 73-93%), making it superior to ALT (55%; 95% CI, 41-68%) for the detection of hepatocellular injury in Labrador retrievers (P <0.001). This study demonstrated that serum HDmiR, particularly miR-122, is a highly sensitive marker for the detection of hepatocellular injury in Labrador retrievers and is a promising new biomarker that may be used for early detection of subclinical hepatitis in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27021912/