Expression of blood hepatocyte-derived microRNA-122 in canine multicentric lymphoma with hepatic involvement.

This study was performed to evaluate the hepatocyte-derived microRNA (miR)-122 as novel diagnostic biomarker in canine lymphoma. Fifteen dogs were enrolled in this study. Dogs presented at Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University. Dogs were divided into 8 clinically healthy dogs act as control and 7 clinically ill dogs. All dogs were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographic, hemato-biochemical and ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy for cytological and histopathological investigations. On the basis of these results, 7 dogs were found to be suffering from multicentric lymphoma involving liver. Serum hepatocyte-derived miRA-122 was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in all dogs. Multicentric lymphoma involving liver manifested by inappetance for several days, depression and peripheral lymphadenopathy. Hematological examination showed significant lymphocytosis. Serum biochemical analysis revealed significant increase in ALT, AST, ALP compared to control dogs. Ultrasonography revealed hypoechoic lymphoid aggregation at area of "porta hepatis" and circumscribed hypoechoic nodule interrupt liver parenchyma. Cytology revealed infiltration of liver tissue by lymphoblast cells and histopathology revealed diffuse infiltration of hepatic sinusoids and portal area by uniform population of small lymphocytes. Serum miRNA-122 analysis showed a significant increase represented as 9.00 fold in canine multicentric lymphoma involving liver. Serum hepatocyte-derived miRNA-122 is of diagnostic value, non invasive, stable and easily measurable blood biomarker for the detection of hepatocellular injury in dogs with multicentric lymphoma involving liver.