Abstract: Objective　To detect the expression of circulating microRNA-24 (miR-24) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and investigate the relationship between miR-24 expression and HBV infection and the mechanisms. Methods Clinical information and laboratory date from 45 patients with HBV infection and 22 health normal controls were collected. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-24 in patients with HBV infection and health normal controls. ELISA was used to detect the contents of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B E antigen (HBeAg). After the HepG2.2.15 cell was transfected with miR-24 mimic for 48 hours, the expression of miR-24 was analyzed by qRT-PCR. ELISA was used again to investigate the contents of HBsAg and HBeAg. And qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Pre-Core HBV RNA. Results The expression of circulating miR-24 in patients with HBV infection was significantly lower than that of in health normal controls (p<0.01). The contents of HBsAg and HBeAg in HepG2.2.15 were significantly higher than those of in HepG2. The expression of miR-24 was higher in HepG2.2.15 after transfected with miR-24 mimic for 48 hours. MiR-24 decreased the contents of HBsAg and HBeAg (p<0.01), and inhibited the expression of Pre-Core HBV RNA (p<0.05) in HepG2.2.15 cell, respectively. Conclusion The expression of miR-24 in patients with HBV infection was down regulated. Treatment based on the enhanced expression of miR-24 may be a promising strategy for HBV infection.

Key words: microRNA-24, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B E antigen (HBeAg)