Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND ANALYTICAL MEDICINE, cilt.17, sa.1, ss.65-69, 2026 (ESCI)
Aim: This study investigated the effects of plasma microRNA expression levels on the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis associated with metabolic dysfunction in children. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one obese children with MASLD, 23 obese children without MASLD, and 20 age-sex-matched healthy children were enrolled in the study. The plasma levels of five miRNAs (miRNA-21, miRNA-33a, miRNA-33b, miRNA-34a, and miRNA-122a), which are known to be associated with MASLD, were examined in all the subjects. Plasma miRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR in the children. The groups were compared with each other. Results: It was determined that significantly increased levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-122a, but decreased miRNA-33b and miRNA-34a levels, were observed in both the obese group with MASLD and the obese group without MASLD relative to the control group. No significant differences in those miRNA levels were found between the obese group with MASLD and the obese group without MASLD. However, miRNA-21 and miRNA-122a levels were two-fold higher, and miRNA-33b and miRNA-34a levels were approximately two-fold lower in the obese group with MASLD than in the obese group without MASLD. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in miRNA-33a levels across the study groups. Discussion: Plasma miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of MASLD in children. More comprehensive and functional research about the role of these molecules is needed in this regard.