Huang, Chung-FengHuang, Ching-IYeh, Ming-LunWang, Shu-ChiChen, Kuan-YuKo, Yu-MinLin, Ching-ChihTsai, Yi-ShanTsai, Pei-ChienLin, Zu-YauChen, Shinn-CherngDai, Chia-YenHuang, Jee-FuChuang, Wan-LongYu, Ming-Lung2017-07-242017Huang, C., C. Huang, M. Yeh, S. Wang, K. Chen, Y. Ko, C. Lin, et al. 2017. “Diversity of the association of serum levels and genetic variants of MHC class I polypeptide-related chain A with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.” Oncotarget 8 (20): 32618-32625. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15941. http://dx.doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.15941.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33490726Background/Aims Genetic variants of MHC class I polypeptide-related chain A (MICA) at rs2596542 have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The linkage between serum MICA (sMICA) and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C is elusive. Results: Linear regression analysis revealed that sMICA were independently correlated to α-fetoprotein (β: 0.149; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.001, 0.003; P = 0.007)and MICA rs2596542 GG genotype (β: 0.209; 95% CI: 0.153, 0.483; P < 0.001). While patients were stratified by MICA genetic variants, advanced fibrosis was the only factor independently correlated to sMICA among A allele carriers (β: 0.234; 95% CI: 0.107, 0.543; P = 0.004) but not among non-A allele carriers. Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with advanced liver fibrosis was sMICA (OR/CI: 2.996/1.428–6.287, P = 0.004) and platelet counts (OR/CI: 0.988/0.982–0.994, P < 0.001) in MICA rs2596542 A allele carriers. sMICA > 50 pg/mL provided a positive predictive value of 72 % in predicting advanced liver fibrosis (F3-4) and of 90% in significant fibrosis (> F2) in MICA rs2596542 A allele carriers. Materials and Methods Serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism at rs2596542 of MICA were tested for the association with liver fibrosis in 319 biopsy proven chronic hepatitis C patients. Conclusions: Levels of sMICA were highly correlated to liver disease severity in chronic hepatitis C patients who carried the MICA rs738409 A allele. Patients possessing the genetic predisposition had a higher likelihood of progressed liver fibrosis if they expressed higher sMICA levels.en-USMICASNPsMICAliver fibrosisCHCJournal Article2017-07-2410.18632/oncotarget.15941