Evaluation of MicroRNA gene polymorphisms (MicroRNA-149 (rs2292832), MicroRNA-146a (rs2910164), MicroRNA-196a2 (rs11614913)) and its association with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Abstract Objective The present study aimed examine the relationship between the microRNA gene polymorphisms (MicroRNAs) (MicroRNA-149 (rs2292832), MicroRNA-146a (rs2910164), MicroRNA-196a2 (rs11614913)) with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. Methods To identify relevant case–control studies, we conducted a systematic search across several bibliographic databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, and Embase. The Review Manager (version 5.4) and MetaGenyo ( https://metagenyo.genyo .) were used for the reviews and statistical analysis. The data were collectively analyzed across 29 research articles, comprising 1643 cases and 1424 controls for liver cirrhosis and 9798 cases and 10,205 controls for hepatocellular carcinoma respectively for the present meta-analysis. Results The outcomes of the MicroRNA-196a2 (rs11614913) gene polymorphism for liver cirrhosis (LC) were statistically non-significant in all genetic models. For hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the MicroRNA-149 (rs2292832) gene polymorphisms were statistically significant in the allelic, recessive, and dominant models ( p < 0.05), but non-significant in the over-dominant model ( p > 0.05). Similarly, the MicroRNA-196a2 (rs11614913) gene polymorphism for HCC was statistically significant in the allelic, recessive, and dominant models ( p < 0.05), but non-significant in the over-dominant model ( p > 0.05). Additionally, the MicroRNA-146a (rs2910164) gene polymorphism for HCC was statistically significant in the allelic, recessive, and over-dominant models ( p < 0.05), but non-significant in the dominant model ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Results from our meta-analysis suggest that MicroRNA-196a2 (rs11614913) is associated with an increased risk of HCC but not with liver cirrhosis. Notably, the gene polymorphisms MicroRNA-146a (rs2910164) and MicroRNA-149 (rs2292832) were associated with both HCC susceptibility and progression. These findings indicate that these microRNAs could potentially serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.