Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the changes of serum microRNA (miR)-21 and miR-124a levels in patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and their clinical implications. Methods 87 patients with DILI and 60 health persons proven by physical examination were enrolled in our hospital between March 2019 and March 2022. Serum miR-21 and miR-124a levels were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and serum nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined by ELISA. Results Serum peak ALT, AST, GGT and bilirubin levels in patients with DILI in our series were (143.6±51.8)U/L, (158.2±38.8)U/L, (131.6±26.8)U/L and (41.9±9.6)μmol/L; serum miR-21, miR124a mRNA, NF-κB and IL-6 levels in patients with DILI were (1.4±0.3), (2.6±0.4), (3615.4±526.4)pg/ml and (12.7±1.8)pg/ml, all significantly higher than [(1.0±0.1), (1.1±0.1), (692.2±144.6)pg/ml and (3.4±0.7)pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05] in healthy persons; serum NF-κB and IL-6 levels in patients with mixed DILI were (3874.5±282.5)pg/ml and (14.4±2.6)pg/ml, both much higher than [(3609.8±296.4)pg/ml and (12.6±1.5)pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05] in patients with hepatocyte injury or [(3437.2±253.7)pg/ml and (11.7±1.3)pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05] in DILI patients with cholestasis; unfortunately, there were no significant differences as respect to serum miR-21 and miR-124a levels among patients with different clinical types (P>0.05). Conclusion Serum miR-21 and miR-124a levels in patients with DILI significantly increase as liver function test deteriorated, but their clinical implications is still under investigation.

Key words: Drug-induced liver injury, microRNA-21, microRNA-124a, Implications