Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Nov 2021)

Evaluation of seven gene signature for predicting HCV recurrence post-liver transplantation

  • Ghada M. Salum,
  • Mai Abd el Meguid,
  • Tawfeek H. Abelhafez,
  • Eman Medhat,
  • Ashraf O. Abdel Aziz,
  • Reham Dawood

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43141-021-00266-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background Orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT) offers a therapeutic choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The poor outcome of liver transplantation is HCV recurrence. Several genome-wide associated studies (GWAS) have reported many genetic variants to be associated with HCV recurrence. Seven gene polymorphisms formed a cirrhosis risk score (CRS) signature that could be used to distinguish chronic HCV patients at high risk from those at low risk for cirrhosis in non-transplant patients. This study aims to examine the association of CRS score and other clinical parameters with the probability for HCC emergence and/or the rate of HCV recurrence following liver transplantation. Results Seven gene polymorphisms, forming the CRS, were genotyped by real-time PCR using allelic discrimination protocol in 199 end-stage liver disease patients (79 child A, 43 child B, and 77child C), comprising 106 patients who encountered liver transplantation. Recipient CRS scores were correlated with HCV recurrence (HCV-Rec) at the end of the third year after OLT. Around 81% (39) recipients with low steatosis (LS; 3.5% [OR, 46.07; 95% CI, 1.5–1407.8]. Conclusions Accordingly, the CRS score seems to be less useful to predict HCV recurrence after OLT. ALT and donor steatosis (exceed 3.5%) can significantly promote the HCV recurrence post-OLT. Moreover, the combination of MMF and CNI positively heightens HCV recurrence.

Keywords