Significance of MicroRNA-200a and Long Noncoding RNA-HULC Expression in HCV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City (USC), El-Menoufiya governorate- Egypt.

2 Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo- Egypt.

3 Molecular Diagnostics & Therapeutics Department, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City (USC), El-Menoufiya governorate- Egypt.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection chronicity is a major risk factor for HCC in Egypt. Early diagnosis of HCC is of great clinical desirability since it promises a virtuous prognosis if the patient could get early specific treatment. Many microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) proved to be implicated in pathogenesis of several diseases, including HCC as they are known as key regulators of gene expression. In this work, we aimed to investigate the expression level of microRNA-200a, and lncRNA- HULC in sera of HCV-associated HCC Egyptian patients compared to chronic HCV patients and apparently healthy subjects. Ninety-nine subjects were included in this work, grouped in: HCC-on top of HCV- group, chronic HCV group and control group. Genetic expression levels of both miR-200a and lncRNA-HULC were assessed in sera of all subjects using real time PCR technique. Both miR-200a and HULC expression levels were significantly changed in chronic HCV and HCC groups compared to the control group (P< 0.001), with a significant change in both between the HCV and HCC groups (P< 0.001). Inverse significant correlation was found between miR-200a and HULC.  Diagnosing potentiality of both for HCC was tested by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. miR-200a was more specific, while HULC was more sensitive in predicting HCC in chronic HCV cohort. Combining raised the sensitivity to 80.6% with 66.7% specificity and raised the significance of the test to the ultimate (P< 0.001). We conclude that miR-200a and HULC may play a role in the pathogenesis of HCC and seems to act as promising molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC in chronic HCV patients, especially if combined. 

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