Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a leading lethality. The etiology is quite diverse, ranging from viral infections to metabolic disorders or intoxications, and associates with specific somatic mutational patterns and specific host immunological phenotypes. Particularly, hepatitis...

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Main Authors: Henriette Huschka, Sabine Mihm
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7803
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author Henriette Huschka
Sabine Mihm
author_facet Henriette Huschka
Sabine Mihm
author_sort Henriette Huschka
collection DOAJ
description Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a leading lethality. The etiology is quite diverse, ranging from viral infections to metabolic disorders or intoxications, and associates with specific somatic mutational patterns and specific host immunological phenotypes. Particularly, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver is featured by an activation of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs; IFN signature), which we suppose is driven by type III <i>IFNL4</i>. Taking advantage of the TCGA collection of HCC patients of various different etiologies, this study aimed at validating our previous findings on hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> gene activation in HCV infection in an independent and larger cohort of patients with advanced liver disease. In a cohort of <i>n</i> = 377 cases, the entirety of the sequencing data was used to assess the <i>IFNL</i> genotypes, and the cases were stratified for etiology. The number of <i>IFNL4</i> transcripts within nonmalignant and malignant tissues was found to be more abundant in patients with HCV or HCV/HBV infections when compared to other risk factors. Moreover, in patients with HCV infection as a risk factor, a close, positive relationship was found between ISG activation and the number of functional <i>IFNL4</i> transcripts. Data on this independent TCGA sample support the concept of an <i>IFNL4</i>-dependent HCV-driven activation of hepatic ISGs. In addition to that, they add to the understanding of etiology-related host immunological phenotypes in HCC.
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spelling doaj.art-32c2f679adbe4881a754f7399006e1342023-11-22T05:38:37ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-012215780310.3390/ijms22157803Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to EtiologyHenriette Huschka0Sabine Mihm1Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center, 37075 Goettingen, GermanyDepartment of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center, 37075 Goettingen, GermanyHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a leading lethality. The etiology is quite diverse, ranging from viral infections to metabolic disorders or intoxications, and associates with specific somatic mutational patterns and specific host immunological phenotypes. Particularly, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver is featured by an activation of interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs; IFN signature), which we suppose is driven by type III <i>IFNL4</i>. Taking advantage of the TCGA collection of HCC patients of various different etiologies, this study aimed at validating our previous findings on hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> gene activation in HCV infection in an independent and larger cohort of patients with advanced liver disease. In a cohort of <i>n</i> = 377 cases, the entirety of the sequencing data was used to assess the <i>IFNL</i> genotypes, and the cases were stratified for etiology. The number of <i>IFNL4</i> transcripts within nonmalignant and malignant tissues was found to be more abundant in patients with HCV or HCV/HBV infections when compared to other risk factors. Moreover, in patients with HCV infection as a risk factor, a close, positive relationship was found between ISG activation and the number of functional <i>IFNL4</i> transcripts. Data on this independent TCGA sample support the concept of an <i>IFNL4</i>-dependent HCV-driven activation of hepatic ISGs. In addition to that, they add to the understanding of etiology-related host immunological phenotypes in HCC.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7803hepatitis C virus (HCV)hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)interferon-stimulated gene (ISG)interferon lambda 4 (<i>IFNL4</i>)rs368234815rs11322783
spellingShingle Henriette Huschka
Sabine Mihm
Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
hepatitis C virus (HCV)
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
interferon-stimulated gene (ISG)
interferon lambda 4 (<i>IFNL4</i>)
rs368234815
rs11322783
title Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
title_full Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
title_fullStr Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
title_full_unstemmed Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
title_short Hepatic <i>IFNL4</i> Gene Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Regard to Etiology
title_sort hepatic i ifnl4 i gene activation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with regard to etiology
topic hepatitis C virus (HCV)
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
interferon-stimulated gene (ISG)
interferon lambda 4 (<i>IFNL4</i>)
rs368234815
rs11322783
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7803
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