Evaluation of Osteopontin and Pok émon genes expression in hepatitis C virus–associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Osteopontin and Pok émon genes have been hypothesized to be useful as therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis C virus infection. We conducted our study on 50 patients and classified them into three groups—Group I: Patients with HCV‐related HCC; Grou p II: Patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis; and Group III: Patients with hepatitis C fibrosis. We conclude that hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with overexpression of both Osteopontin and Pokémon and that Osteopontin plays a significant role in liver fibrosis due to hepatitis C infection. AbstractOsteopontin and Pok émon genes may have an important role in the pathogenesis of different malignancies. Osteopontin is a glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix, and Pokémon is a regulator of transcription. Both have been hypothesized to be useful as therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers. We aim to assess the r ole of both in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted our study on 50 patients and classified them into three groups—Group I: Patients with HCV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 30); Group II: Patients with hepatitis C cir rhosis (n = 10); and Group III: Patients with hepatitis C fibrosis (n = 10). We found high levels of Osteopontin and Pokémon gene expression in group I. Osteopontin levels were higher also in patients with liver fibrosis was correlated to high...
Source: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research