Turkish Journal of Pathology

Türk Patoloji Dergisi

Turkish Journal of Pathology

Turkish Journal of Pathology

E-pub Ahead Of Print

Inflammation-Associated Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Chronic Viral Hepatitis- Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Burcin PEHLIVANOGLU 1, Anil AYSAL 1, Cihan AGALAR 3, Tufan EGELI 3, Mucahit OZBILGIN 3, Tarkan UNEK 3, Ilkay Tugba UNEK 4, Ilhan OZTOP 4, Safiye AKTAS 5, Ozgul SAGOL 1

1 Department of Molecular Pathology, Dokuz Eylul University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, IZMIR, TÜRKİYE
2 Department of Pathology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, IZMIR, TÜRKİYE
3 Department of General Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, IZMIR, TÜRKİYE
4 Department of Medical Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, IZMIR, TÜRKİYE
5 Department of Basic Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University, Institute of Oncology, IZMIR, TÜRKİYE

DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2024.13593
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Objective: This study aimed to identify the expression profile and prognostic significance of inflammation-associated lncRNAs in chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and CVH-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (CVH-HCC).

Material and Methods: In the first step, lncRNA expression analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using an array panel of 84 inflammation-associated lncRNAs in 48 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples (12 CVH-HCC, 12 peritumoral cirrhotic parenchyma, 12 nontumoral cirrhotic CVH parenchyma, 12 normal liver samples). In the second step, 7 lncRNAs (DLEU2, HOTAIR, LINC00635, LINC00662, RP11-549J18.1, SNHG16 and XIST) were chosen for RT-PCR assay testing in 72 samples (24 CVH-HCC, 24 peritumoral cirrhotic parenchyma, 24 nontumoral cirrhotic CVH parenchyma samples).

Results: Fifty-six inflammation-associated lncRNAs were significantly up-regulated in the peritumoral cirrhotic parenchyma compared to the normal liver. Expression of 71 lncRNAs was significantly higher in peritumoral cirrhotic parenchyma compared to cirrhotic CVH parenchyma. DLEU2 and SNHG16 were up-regulated both in the tumor and peritumoral cirrhotic parenchyma compared to cirrhotic CVH parenchyma. Expression of LINC00662 was significantly higher in CVH-HCC than in cirrhotic CVH parenchyma. Expression of XIST was also increased in both tumor and peritumoral parenchyma samples, albeit without statistical significance. No significant association was found between lncRNA expressions and survival.

Conclusion: Inflammation-associated lncRNAs DLEU2, SNHG16, LINC00662, and XIST are candidate diagnostic biomarkers in CVH-HCC. More evidence is needed to prove their utility as prognostic markers.

Keywords : Prognosis, Hepatocellular carcinoma, lncRNA, Inflammation, Chronic viral hepatitis, Cirrhosis