Abstract: Objective To explore the differential expression of plasma miRNA in patients with HBV-related
liver fibrosis. Methods Total of 10 cases with HBV-related liver fibrosis (S2～S3), 8 cases with compensated
liver cirrhosis and 8 healthy controls from 2013 to 2014 in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University
were selected. The expression of plasma miRNA were detected by IlluminaHiSeq sequencing. Cluster
analysis and target genes prediction of differential expression miRNA were carried out and gene ontology
(GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed for the target genes of
differential expression miRNA. Results Compared with healthy group, total of 104 miRNA were screened
out from liver fibrosis group, of which 72 miRNA were up-regulated and 32 were down-regulated. In liver
cirrhosis group, total of 102 miRNA were screened out, of which 70 were up-regulated and 32 were down-
regulated. Total of 22 miRNA were up-regulated and 24 miRNA were down-regulated in liver fibrosis group
and liver cirrhosis group. Among those up-regulated miRNA, the expression of 9 miRNA in liver cirrhosis
group was higher than those in hepatic fibrosis group, while in the down-regulated miRNA, the differences
were not significant. Conclusions The expression of miRNA in patients with liver fibrosis is significantly
different from those of healthy subjects. miRNA have a vital role in the progess of liver fibrosis. Many signal
pathways of liver fibrosis may be regulated by miRNA and the exact mechanism needs further study.