title: Expression signature of microRNA-155 in hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection.
abstract: Hepatits C virus (HCV) genotype 4 (GT4) shows low treatment response rates and discrepancies when compared to other genotypes. However, the reason underlying these discrepancies remains unclear due to the limited number of studies on GT4. microRNA-155 (miR-155) is a noteworthy example of a discrepancy in GT4, as it was found to be upregulated in genotypes 1, 2 and 3 HCV infection, but downregulated in GT4-HCV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The present study aimed to investigate the expression ofmiR-155in PBMCs, serum and liver tissues of GT4-HCV-infected patients.miR-155expression was assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in GT4-HCV-infected PBMCs, serum and liver tissues, as well as GT2- and GT4-infected Huh7 cells, and compared to the healthy controls. There was no difference inmiR-155expression observed between naïve GT4-HCV patients and healthy controls in the PBMCs and serum. In HCV-infected liver tissues, however, a significant downregulation was observed. The uniquemiR-155expression pattern during GT4 infection was confirmed in the infected Huh7 cell lines when compared to GT2 infection. Clinical data showed a positive correlation between liver transaminases and serummiR-155expression. In addition, serummiR-155expression was significantly lower in naïve non-responders (NRs) than naïve sustained virological responders (SVRs), and in post-treatment NRs compared to post-treatment SVRs. In conclusion,miR-155was not only proven to be a genotype-specific microRNA that is not induced during GT4-HCV infection, but also a good prognostic factor and predictor of response to treatment enabling a non-invasive differentiation between NRs and SVRs during GT4-HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sarah Ehab
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Riad
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Ekiaby
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Radwa Yehia
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Mekky
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology and Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology and Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ahmed Mohey
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El Din
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology and Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology and Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Mohammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abouelkhair
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.affiliation: Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11976, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdel Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zekri
authors.affiliation: Departments of Endemic Medicine and Hepatology and Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esmat
authors.affiliation: The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ihab
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
keywords: genotype 4; hepatitis C virus; microRNA-155; treatment response