Abstract:
Background: Hepatitis C is considered one of the most popular diseases in Egypt. We
aim is to clarify the association between Cluster of Differentiation 24 (CD24)
polymorphism, Talin-1 gene expression, and the prevalence of hepatocellular
carcinoma in Egyptian Hepatitis C virus patients.
Methods: The link between CD24 polymorphism rs8734 and the prevalence of
hepatocellular carcinoma was assessed between 200 control subjects and 400 hepatitis
C virus patients (HCV), patients were classified as follows; 200 patients with HCV and
200 with HCV and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by histopathological assessment
and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
Results: The hepatitis c patients with HCC showed a significant increase in alpha -
fetoprotein (AFP) and Talin-1 gene expression compared to patients with HCV as well
as in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the frequencies of CD 24 170 CT/TT genotype
were significantly higher in HCV patients without complications (60%) when
compared to CC genotype (40%) (OR= 6 at X2= 14.41, P = 0.0007), and in HCV with
HCC patients (90%) when compared to CC genotype (10%) (OR= 36 at X2= 14.41, P
= 0.0007).
Conclusion: These data suggest that CD24 genetic polymorphism rs8734 and Talin-1
gene expression may be a significant determinant for the prevalence of hepatocellular
carcinoma in HCV patients.
