title: A genetic variant in long non-coding RNA HULC contributes to risk of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, several studies have demonstrated that two long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), HULC and MALAT1, may participate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression. However, genetic variations in the two lncRNAs and their associations with HCC susceptibility have not been reported. In this study, we hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HULC and MALAT1 may contribute to HCC risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study and genotyped two SNPs, rs7763881 in HULC and rs619586 in MALAT1, in 1300 HBV positive HCC patients, 1344 HBV persistent carriers and 1344 subjects with HBV natural clearance to test the associations between the two SNPs and susceptibility to HCC and HBV chronic infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variant genotypes of rs7763881 were significantly associated with decreased HCC risk in a dominant genetic model [AC/CC vs. AA: adjusted odds ration (OR)  =  0.81, 95% confidence intervals (CIs)  =  0.68-0.97, P  =  0.022]. Furthermore, the variant genotypes of rs619586 was associated with decreased HCC risk with a borderline significance (AG/GG vs. AA: adjusted OR  =  0.81, 95% CIs  =  0.65-1.01, P  =  0.057). However, no significant association was found between the two SNPs and HBV clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variant genotypes of rs7763881 in HULC may contribute to decreased susceptibility to HCC in HBV persistent carriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and biostatistics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shandong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Jibin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: C574685:HULC long non-coding RNA, human; C557041:MALAT1 long non-coding RNA, human; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated