AIM: To assess whether a correlation exists between oxidative DNA damage occurring in chronic HCV-related hepatitis and expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-α and c-myc. METHODS: The series included...AIM: To assess whether a correlation exists between oxidative DNA damage occurring in chronic HCV-related hepatitis and expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-α and c-myc. METHODS: The series included 37 patients with chronic active HCV-related hepatitis and 11 with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis. Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in liver biopsies was quantified using an electrochemical detector. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-α and c-myc in liver specimens was detected by semiquantitative comparaUve RT-PCR. RESULTS: TNF-α levels were significantly higher in hepatitis patients than in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05). IL-1β was higher in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05). A sig- nificant correlation was found between TNF-α and staging (P= 0.05) and between IL-1β levels and grading (P=0.04). c-myc showed a significantly higher expression in cirrhosis patients (P=0.001). Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were significantly higher in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05) and in HCV genotype 1 (P=0.03). Considering all patients, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were found to be correlated with genotype (P=0.04) and grading (P=0.007). Also multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation among the number of DNA adducts, TNF-α expression and HCV genotype (P= 0.02). CONCLUSION: In chronic HCV-related liver damage, oxidative DNA damage correlates with HCV genotype, grading and TNF-α levels. As HCV-related liver damage progresses, TNF-α levels drop while IL-1β and c-myc levels increase, which may be relevant to liver carcinogenesis.展开更多
Background and Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)poses a significant global health burden and ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer on a global scale.Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection remains one of the major ri...Background and Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)poses a significant global health burden and ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer on a global scale.Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection remains one of the major risk factors for HCC development.HCC is a heterogeneous disease,and the development of HCC caused by HCV is intricate and involves various factors,including genetic susceptibility,viral factors,immune response due to chronic inflammation,alcohol abuse,and metabolic dysfunction associated with fatty liver disease.In this review,we provide a comprehensive and updated review of research on the genetics and epigenetic mechanisms implicated in developing HCC associated with HCV infection.We also discuss the potential translational implications,including novel biomarkers and drugs for treatment.Methods:A comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2023 in PubMed and Embase databases.Key Content and Findings:Recent findings indicate that a variety of genetic and epigenetic processes are involved in the pathogenesis and continue to exist even after the complete elimination of HCV.The deregulation of the epigenome has been identified as a significant factor in the deletrious effects of liver disease,especially during the initial stages when genetic alterations are uncommon.The enduring“epigenetic memory”of gene expression is believed to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms,indicating that alterations caused by HCV infection continue to exist and are linked to the risk of development of liver cancer even after successful treatment.Systems biology analytical methods will be required to delineate the magnitude and significance of both genetic and epigenomic alterations in tumor evolution.Conclusions:By facilitating a more profound understanding of these aspects,this will ultimately foster the advancement of novel therapies and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.展开更多
ABM: To study the expression of interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-α/β) receptor protein in liver of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 181...ABM: To study the expression of interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-α/β) receptor protein in liver of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 181 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease included 56 with HCV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) and 125 with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). CHC patients were treated with five megaunits of interferon-α1b six times weekly for the first 2 weeks and then every other day for 22 wk. The patients were divided into interferon (IFN) treatment-responsive and non-responsive groups, but 36 patients lost follow-up shortly after receiving the treatment. The expression of IFN-α/β receptor (IFN-α/βR) protein in liver of all patients was determined with immunofluorescence. RESULTS: In liver of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, the expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver cell membrane was stronger than that in cytoplasm and more obvious in the surroundings of portal vein than in the surroundings of central vein. Moreover, it was poorly distributed in hepatic lobules. The weak positive, positive and strong positive expression of IFN-α/βR were 40% (50/125), 28% (35/125), 32% (40/125), respectively in CHC group, and 91.1% (51/56), 5.35% (3/56), and 3.56% (2/56), respectively in LC group. The positive and strong positive rates were higher in CHC group than in LC group (P<0.01). In IFN treatment responsive group, 27.8% (10/36) showed weak positive expression; 72.2% (26/36) showed positive or strong positive expression. In the non-responsive group, 71.7% (38/53) showed weak positive expression; 28.3% (15/53) showed positive or strong positive expression. The expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver was more obvious in IFN treatment responsive group than in non-responsive group. CONCLUSION: Expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease is likely involved in the response to IFN treatment.展开更多
基金Supported by PRIN grants from the Italian Ministry of Science and Technology, No. 2003063143-006
文摘AIM: To assess whether a correlation exists between oxidative DNA damage occurring in chronic HCV-related hepatitis and expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-α and c-myc. METHODS: The series included 37 patients with chronic active HCV-related hepatitis and 11 with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis. Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in liver biopsies was quantified using an electrochemical detector. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-α and c-myc in liver specimens was detected by semiquantitative comparaUve RT-PCR. RESULTS: TNF-α levels were significantly higher in hepatitis patients than in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05). IL-1β was higher in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05). A sig- nificant correlation was found between TNF-α and staging (P= 0.05) and between IL-1β levels and grading (P=0.04). c-myc showed a significantly higher expression in cirrhosis patients (P=0.001). Eight-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were significantly higher in cirrhosis patients (P=0.05) and in HCV genotype 1 (P=0.03). Considering all patients, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels were found to be correlated with genotype (P=0.04) and grading (P=0.007). Also multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation among the number of DNA adducts, TNF-α expression and HCV genotype (P= 0.02). CONCLUSION: In chronic HCV-related liver damage, oxidative DNA damage correlates with HCV genotype, grading and TNF-α levels. As HCV-related liver damage progresses, TNF-α levels drop while IL-1β and c-myc levels increase, which may be relevant to liver carcinogenesis.
基金National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia(NHMRC)Program and Investigator Grants(2008983,1053206,and 1149976,to M.E.)Project and Ideas Grants(1107178 and 1108422,2001692,to M.E.).
文摘Background and Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)poses a significant global health burden and ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer on a global scale.Hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection remains one of the major risk factors for HCC development.HCC is a heterogeneous disease,and the development of HCC caused by HCV is intricate and involves various factors,including genetic susceptibility,viral factors,immune response due to chronic inflammation,alcohol abuse,and metabolic dysfunction associated with fatty liver disease.In this review,we provide a comprehensive and updated review of research on the genetics and epigenetic mechanisms implicated in developing HCC associated with HCV infection.We also discuss the potential translational implications,including novel biomarkers and drugs for treatment.Methods:A comprehensive literature search was conducted in June 2023 in PubMed and Embase databases.Key Content and Findings:Recent findings indicate that a variety of genetic and epigenetic processes are involved in the pathogenesis and continue to exist even after the complete elimination of HCV.The deregulation of the epigenome has been identified as a significant factor in the deletrious effects of liver disease,especially during the initial stages when genetic alterations are uncommon.The enduring“epigenetic memory”of gene expression is believed to be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms,indicating that alterations caused by HCV infection continue to exist and are linked to the risk of development of liver cancer even after successful treatment.Systems biology analytical methods will be required to delineate the magnitude and significance of both genetic and epigenomic alterations in tumor evolution.Conclusions:By facilitating a more profound understanding of these aspects,this will ultimately foster the advancement of novel therapies and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.
文摘ABM: To study the expression of interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-α/β) receptor protein in liver of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 181 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease included 56 with HCV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) and 125 with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). CHC patients were treated with five megaunits of interferon-α1b six times weekly for the first 2 weeks and then every other day for 22 wk. The patients were divided into interferon (IFN) treatment-responsive and non-responsive groups, but 36 patients lost follow-up shortly after receiving the treatment. The expression of IFN-α/β receptor (IFN-α/βR) protein in liver of all patients was determined with immunofluorescence. RESULTS: In liver of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease, the expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver cell membrane was stronger than that in cytoplasm and more obvious in the surroundings of portal vein than in the surroundings of central vein. Moreover, it was poorly distributed in hepatic lobules. The weak positive, positive and strong positive expression of IFN-α/βR were 40% (50/125), 28% (35/125), 32% (40/125), respectively in CHC group, and 91.1% (51/56), 5.35% (3/56), and 3.56% (2/56), respectively in LC group. The positive and strong positive rates were higher in CHC group than in LC group (P<0.01). In IFN treatment responsive group, 27.8% (10/36) showed weak positive expression; 72.2% (26/36) showed positive or strong positive expression. In the non-responsive group, 71.7% (38/53) showed weak positive expression; 28.3% (15/53) showed positive or strong positive expression. The expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver was more obvious in IFN treatment responsive group than in non-responsive group. CONCLUSION: Expression of IFN-α/βR protein in liver of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease is likely involved in the response to IFN treatment.