Small tRNA-derived RNAs are increased and more abundant than microRNAs in chronic hepatitis B and C.

ABSTRACT: Persistent infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) account for the majority of cases of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Small, non-coding RNAs play important roles in virus-host interactions. We used high throughput sequencing to conduct an unbiased profiling of small (14-40 nts) RNAs in liver from Japanese subjects with advanced hepatitis B or C and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small RNAs derived from tRNAs, specifically 30-35 nucleotide-long 5' tRNA-halves (5' tRHs), were abundant in non-malignant liver and significantly increased in humans and chimpanzees with chronic viral hepatitis. 5' tRH abundance exceeded microRNA abundance in most infected non-cancerous tissues. In contrast, in matched cancer tissue, 5' tRH abundance wa

SUBMITTER: Selitsky SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4286764 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature