TGF-Β1 & PNPLA3 Genetic Variants and the Risk of Hepatic Fibrosis and HCC in Egyptian Patients with HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE: The clinical outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its sequelae including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are greatly affected by host genetic factors; however, the possible mechanisms are still largely unclear. This work aimed to assess transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and patatin-like phospholipase domain containing-protein 3 (PNPLA3) genetic variants as risk factors for hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Seventy HCV-related liver cirrhosis patients (Total cirrhosis) who were divided into two groups; 34 patients with HCC (HCC group), and 36 patients without HCC (LC group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group) were included. Routine laboratory investigations and imaging studies were determined. TGF-β1 (Arg25Pro; 915G>C) and PNPLA3 (I148M; C>G) variants were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). RESULTS: HCC group showed a significantly higher GG genotype distribution of TGF-β1 (Arg25Pro) than the LC group (P= 0.008, OR: 7.083, CI 95%: 1.422 – 35.282). The distributions of GG genotype (P= 0.047) and G allele (P= 0.002, OR: 4.395, CI 95%: 1.622 – 11.911) of PNPLA3 (I148M) were significantly higher in total cirrhosis patients than controls. CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 (Arg25Pro) GG variant may be associated with HCC risk in HCV-related liver cirrhosis patients, while PNPLA3 (I148M) GG variant may be associated with cirrhosis development but not HCC risk in HCV-related liver cirrhosis patients.