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This study aims to illustrate the role of microRNA-548 (miR-548) in regulating the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and the involvement of WNT2.MiR-548b levels in CRC species and paracancerous ones were detected. The relationship between miR-548b level and clinical parameters of CRC patients was analyzed. After overexpression of miR-548b, the changes in the proliferative and apoptotic capacities of Sw620 and HT29 cells were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. At last, the involvement of WNT2, the downstream gene of miR-548b, was detected by Luciferase assay and rescue experiments.Results manifested that miR-548b was lowly expressed in CRC species than paracancerous ones, and in vitro level of miR-548b was downregulated in CRC cell lines as well. Compared with CRC patients in T1-T2, miR-548b level was lower in T3-T4 CRC. Moreover, CRC patients with lymphatic metastasis had lower level of miR-548b than those without. Overexpression of miR-548b suppressed proliferative capacity and induced apoptosis in CRC cells. Besides, it was found that WNT2 was the downstream gene of miR-548b, and its level was negatively regulated by miR-548b in CRC. Furthermore, rescue experiments showed that WNT2 was responsible for CRC development regulated by miR-548b.MiR-548b is closely linked to tumor stage and lymphatic metastasis of CRC, and it alleviates the malignant development of CRC by targeting WNT2.

We have reported a case of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) associated membranous nephropathy (MN) with complete remission under an ongoing 3·5-year entecavir monotherapy. A 59-year-old man with a 3-year history of liver cirrhosis was introduced to our department because of oliguria, proteinuria and microscopic haematuria. He, with negative serum HBV surface antigen, was not detected HBV DNA in his serum. Renal biopsy was performed and was compatible with a diagnosis of hepatitis B virus-related membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN). The patient was prescribed diuretics and intravenous albumin, and his ascites and oedema remitted gradually. At the same time, entecavir 0·5 mg per day was started. Entecavir treatment was continuing for 3·5 years and finally resulted in complete remission of proteinuria. This suggests that entecavir monotherapy may induce and maintain complete remission of MN associated with OBI.