Open AccessHepatic HMOX1 Expression Positively Correlates with Bach-1 and miR-122 in Patients with HCV Mono and HIV/HCV Coinfection
Author(s) -
Elżbieta Jabłonowska,
Kamila Wójcik,
Bożena Szymańska,
Aleksandra Omulecka,
Hanna Ćwiklińska,
Anna Piekarska
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0095564
Subject(s) - hmox1 , liver biopsy , coinfection , medicine , viral load , virology , hepatitis c , immunology , biopsy , biology , pathology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , heme oxygenase , heme , biochemistry , enzyme
Aim To analyze the expression of HMOX1 and miR-122 in liver biopsy samples obtained from HCV mono-and HIV/HCV co-infected patients in relation to selected clinical parameters, histological examination and IL-28B polymorphism as well as to determine whether HMOX1 expression is dependent on Bach-1. Materials and Methods The study group consisted of 90 patients with CHC: 69 with HCV mono and 21 with HIV/HCV co-infection. RT-PCR was used in the analysis of HMOX1, Bach-1 and miR-122 expression in liver biopsy samples and in the assessment of IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphism C/T (rs12979860) in the blood. Moreover in liver biopsy samples an analysis of HO-1 and Bach-1 protein level by Western Blot was performed. Results HCV mono-infected patients, with lower grading score (G<2) and higher HCV viral load (>6 IU/mL) demonstrated higher expression of HMOX1. In patients with HIV/HCV co-infection, the expression of HMOX1 was lower in patients with lower lymphocyte CD4 count and higher HIV viral load. IL28B polymorphism did not affect the expression of either HMOX1 or miR-122. Higher HMOX1 expression correlated with higher expression of Bach-1 (Spearman’s ρ = 0.586, p = 0.1) and miR-122 (Spearman’s ρ = 0.270, p = 0.014059). Conclusions HMOX1 and miR-122 play an important role in the pathogenesis of CHC in HCV mono-and HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Reduced expression of HMOX1 in patients with HIV/HCV co-infection may indicate a worse prognosis in this group. Our results do not support the importance of Bach-1 in repression of HMOX1 in patients with chronic hepatitis C.