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Assal RA, Elemam NM, Mekky RY, Attia AA, Soliman AH, Gomaa AI, Efthimiadou EK, Braoudaki M, Fahmy SA, Youness RA. A Novel Epigenetic Strategy to Concurrently Block Immune Checkpoints PD-1/PD-L1 and CD155/TIGIT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Transl Oncol 2024; 45:101961. [PMID: 38631259 PMCID: PMC11040172 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment is an intricate web of stromal and immune cells creating an immune suppressive cordon around the tumor. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Tumor microenvironment is a formidable barrier towards novel immune therapeutic approaches recently evading the oncology field. In this study, the main aim was to identify the intricate immune evasion tactics mediated by HCC cells and to study the epigenetic modulation of the immune checkpoints; Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/ Programmed death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT)/Cluster of Differentiation 155 (CD155) at the tumor-immune synapse. Thus, liver tissues, PBMCs and sera were collected from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), HCC as well as healthy individuals. Screening was performed to PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT axes in HCC patients. PDL1, CD155, PD-1 and TIGIT were found to be significantly upregulated in liver tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCC patients. An array of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs validated to regulate such immune checkpoints were screened. The lncRNAs; CCAT-1, H19, and MALAT-1 were all significantly upregulated in the sera, PBMCs, and tissues of HCC patients as compared to HCV patients and healthy controls. However, miR-944-5p, miR-105-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-506-5p, and miR-30a-5p were downregulated in the sera and liver tissues of HCC patients. On the tumor cell side, knocking down of lncRNAs-CCAT-1, MALAT-1, or H19-markedly repressed the co-expression of PD-L1 and CD155 and accordingly induced the cytotoxicity of co-cultured primary immune cells. On the immune side, ectopic expression of the under-expressed microRNAs; miR-486-5p, miR-506-5p, and miR-30a-5p significantly decreased the transcript levels of PD-1 in PBMCs with no effect on TIGIT. On the other hand, ectopic expression of miR-944-5p and miR-105-5p in PBMCs dramatically reduced the co-expression of PD-1 and TIGIT. Finally, all studied miRNAs enhanced the cytotoxic effects of PBMCs against Huh7 cells. However, miR-105-5p showed the highest augmentation for PBMCs cytotoxicity against HCC cells. In conclusion, this study highlights a novel co-targeting strategy using miR-105-5p mimics, MALAT-1, CCAT-1 and H19 siRNAs to efficiently hampers the immune checkpoints; PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT immune evasion properties in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Assal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Cairo-Ismailia Desert Road, 11785, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha M Elemam
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Radwa Y Mekky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA University), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman A Attia
- General Surgery Department, Ain Shams University, Demerdash Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aya Hesham Soliman
- Pharmaceutical Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, 11835, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Asmaa Ibrahim Gomaa
- Department of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt
| | - Eleni K Efthimiadou
- Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Braoudaki
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical, and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Sherif Ashraf Fahmy
- Chemistry Department, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, New Administrative Capital, 11835, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rana A Youness
- Pharmaceutical Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, 11835, Cairo, Egypt; Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), New Administrative Capital, 11835, Cairo, Egypt.
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Elemam NM, Mekky RY, Rashid G, Braoudaki M, Youness RA. Pharmacogenomic and epigenomic approaches to untangle the enigma of IL-10 blockade in oncology. Expert Rev Mol Med 2024; 26:e1. [PMID: 38186186 PMCID: PMC10941350 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The host immune system status remains an unresolved mystery among several malignancies. An immune-compromised state or smart immune-surveillance tactics orchestrated by cancer cells are the primary cause of cancer invasion and metastasis. Taking a closer look at the tumour-immune microenvironment, a complex network and crosstalk between infiltrating immune cells and cancer cells mediated by cytokines, chemokines, exosomal mediators and shed ligands are present. Cytokines such as interleukins can influence all components of the tumour microenvironment (TME), consequently promoting or suppressing tumour invasion based on their secreting source. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an interlocked cytokine that has been associated with several types of malignancies and proved to have paradoxical effects. IL-10 has multiple functions on cellular and non-cellular components within the TME. In this review, the authors shed the light on the regulatory role of IL-10 in the TME of several malignant contexts. Moreover, detailed epigenomic and pharmacogenomic approaches for the regulation of IL-10 were presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha M. Elemam
- Research Instiute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Radwa Y. Mekky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA University), Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Gowhar Rashid
- Amity Medical School, Amity University, Gurugram (Manesar) 122413, Haryana, India
| | - Maria Braoudaki
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Rana A. Youness
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University, Cairo 11835, Egypt
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Youness RA, Mohamed AH, Efthimiadou EK, Mekky RY, Braoudaki M, Fahmy SA. A Snapshot of Photoresponsive Liposomes in Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy: Opportunities and Challenges. ACS Omega 2023; 8:44424-44436. [PMID: 38046305 PMCID: PMC10688172 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
To provide precise medical regimens, photonics technologies have been involved in the field of nanomedicine. Phototriggered liposomes have been cast as promising nanosystems that achieve controlled release of payloads in several pathological conditions such as cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. In contrast to the conventional liposomes, this photoresponsive element greatly improves therapeutic efficacy and reduces the adverse effects of gene/drug therapy during treatment. Recently, cancer immunotherpay has been one of the hot topics in the field of oncology due to the great success and therapeutic benefits that were well-recognized by the patients. However, several side effects have been encountered due to the unmonitored augmentation of the immune system. This Review highlights the most recent advancements in the development of photoresponsive liposome nanosystems in the field of oncology, with a specific emphasis on challenges and opportunities in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana A. Youness
- Biology
and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), New Administrative Capital, Cairo 4824201, Egrypt
- Biology
and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT),
School of Life and Medical Sciences, University
of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Adham H. Mohamed
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo
University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Eleni K. Efthimiadou
- Inorganic
Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 157 71, Greece
| | - Radwa Y. Mekky
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA University), Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Maria Braoudaki
- Clinical,
Pharmaceutical, and Biological Science Department, School of Life
and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, U.K.
| | - Sherif Ashraf Fahmy
- Chemistry
Department, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo 11835, Egypt
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Mekky RY, Ragab MF, Manie T, Attia AA, Youness RA. MALAT-1: Immunomodulatory lncRNA hampering the innate and the adaptive immune arms in triple negative breast cancer. Transl Oncol 2023; 31:101653. [PMID: 36907052 PMCID: PMC10025146 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known as hot immunogenic tumor. Yet, it is one of the most aggressive BC subtypes. TNBC evolve several tactics to evade the immune surveillance phenomena, one of which is shedding of natural killer (NK) cells activating immune ligands such as MICA/B and/or by inducing the expression of the immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 and B7-H4. MALAT-1 is an oncogenic lncRNA. MALAT-1 immunogenic profile is not well investigated. AIM The study aims at exploring the immunogenic role of MALAT-1 in TNBC patients and cell lines and to identify its molecular mechanism in altering both innate and adaptive immune cells present at the tumor microenvironment of TNBC METHODS: BC patients (n = 35) were recruited. Primary NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes were isolated from normal individuals using the negative selection method. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured and transfected by several oligonucleotides by lipofection technique. Screening of ncRNAs was performed using q-RT-PCR. Immunological functional analysis experiments were performed upon co-culturing primary natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes using LDH assay. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify potential microRNAs targeted by MALAT-1. RESULTS MALAT-1 expression was significantly upregulated in BC patinets with a profound expression in TNBC patients compared to their normal counterparts. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between MALAT-1, tumor size and lymph node metastasis. Knocking down of MALAT-1 in MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in a significant induction of MICA/B, repression of PD-L1 and B7-H4 expression levels. Enhancement of cytotoxic activity of co-cultured NK and CD8+ cells with MALAT-1 siRNAs transfected MDA-MB-231 cells. In silico analysis revealed that miR-34a and miR-17-5p are potential targets to MALAT-1; accordingly, they were found to be downregulated in BC patients. Forcing the expression of miR-34a in MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in a significant induction in MICA/B levels. Ectopic expression of miR-17-5p in MDA-MB-231 cells significantly repressed the expression of PD-L1 and B7-H4 checkpoints. Validations of MALAT-1/miR-34a" and "MALAT-1/miR-17-5p axes were performed by a series of co-transfections and functional assessment of cytotoxic profile of primary immune cells. CONCLUSION This study proposes a novel epigenetic alteration exerted by TNBC cells mainly by inducing the expression of MALAT-1 lncRNA. MALAT-1 mediates innate and adaptive immune suppression events partially via targeting miR-34a/MICA/B and miR-175p/PD-L1/B7-H4 axes in TNBC patients and cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Y Mekky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA University), Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Mai F Ragab
- Pharmacology Department, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Tamer Manie
- Department of Breast Surgery, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman A Attia
- General Surgery Department, Ain Shams University, Demerdash Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rana A Youness
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
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El-Ekiaby NM, Mekky RY, Riad SE, Elhelw DS, El-Sayed M, Esmat G, Abdelaziz AI. miR-148a and miR-30a limit HCV-dependent suppression of the lipid droplet protein, ADRP, in HCV infected cell models. J Med Virol 2017; 89:653-659. [PMID: 27591428 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) promotes lipid droplet (LD) formation and perturbs the expression of the LD associated PAT proteins ADRP and TIP47, to promote its own lifecycle. HCV enhances TIP47 and suppresses ADRP by displacing it from LD surface in infected cell models. We have previously shown that suppression of TIP47 by miR-148a and miR-30a decreased intracellular LDs and HCV RNA. Thus, this study aimed at examining whether this microRNA-mediated suppression of HCV would limit HCV-dependent displacement of ADRP from LDs. ADRP expression was examined in 21 HCV-infected liver biopsies and 9 healthy donor liver tissues as well as in HCV-infected Huh7 cells using qRT-PCR. miR-148a and miR-30a expression was manipulated using specific oligos in JFH-1 infected, oleic acid treated cells, to study their impact on ADRP expression using qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Intracellular HCV RNA was assessed using qRT-PCR. ADRP is down regulated in patients as well as HCVcc-JFH-I infected cell models. Forcing the expression of both miRNAs induced ADRP on the mRNA and protein levels. This study shows that HCV suppresses hepatic ADRP expression in infected patients and cell lines. Forcing the expression of miR-148a and miR-30a limits the suppressive effect of HCV on ADRP. J. Med. Virol. 89:653-659, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada M El-Ekiaby
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology Research Group, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City-Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Cairo, Egypt
- Scientific Affairs Unit, Egyptian Company for Biological Sciences, Giza, Egypt
| | - Radwa Y Mekky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology Research Group, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City-Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Cairo, Egypt
- Faculty of Biotechnology, October University of Modern Sciences and Arts, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sarah E Riad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology Research Group, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City-Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Dalia S Elhelw
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology Research Group, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City-Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Gamal Esmat
- Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I Abdelaziz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Molecular Pathology Research Group, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City-Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, Cairo, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
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El Sobky SA, El-Ekiaby NM, Mekky RY, Elemam NM, Mohey Eldin MA, El-Sayed M, Esmat G, Abdelaziz AI. Contradicting roles of miR-182 in both NK cells and their host target hepatocytes in HCV. Immunol Lett 2015; 169:52-60. [PMID: 26518141 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Natural killer cells are part of the innate immunity involved in viral eradication and were shown to be greatly affected by HCV infection. Epigenetic regulation of NK cell function by microRNAs was not efficiently studied before and was never studied in HCV infection; therefore the aim of this study was to assess for the first time the role of microRNAs in regulating the function of NK cells of HCV-infected patients and hence viral replication in the target HCV-infected Huh7 cells. METHODOLOGY NK cells were isolated from PBMCs of HCV-infected patients as well as controls, and HCV-infected liver biopsies as well as Huh7 cells infected with the virus were used. For the infection of Huh7 cells, first viral vector was in-vitro transcribed into viral RNA that was then used to infect naїve Huh7 cells. Supernatant from the infected cells was then collected and used for further infection. For manipulation of NK cells or Huh7 cells, miR-182 mimics and inhibitors were transfected via lipofection method. RNA was extracted from each cell population, reverse transcribed. Gene expression as well as viral load was quantified using qPCR. RESULTS Screening of NKG2A and NKG2D between patients and controls showed no difference in expression of NKG2A, while NKG2D was found to be downregulated. In view of that, bioinformatics analysis was performed and showed that miR-182 has potential binding sites on both the inhibitory receptor NKG2A and the activating receptor NKG2D, and on its ligand ULBP2, as well as on the viral genome itself. In NK cells of HCV-infected patients, miR-182 was found to be over-expressed compared to controls; its ectopic expression was found to decrease NKG2D mRNA level, while miR-182 inhibitors were able to decrease NKG2A mRNA compared to untransfected cells. In addition, co-culturing genotype 4 or 2 HCV-infected Huh7 cells with miR-182 mimicked NK cells of HCV-infected patients showed decreased viral replication, suggesting an enhanced NK cell function. On the other hand, miR-182 and ULBP2 were both found to be downregulated in HCV liver tissues and HCV-infected Huh7 cells compared to their controls. miR-182 mimics were found to decrease ULBP2 mRNA and increase viral replication in genotypes 4 and 2 HCV-infected target (Huh7) cells compared to controls, while miR-182 inhibitor decreased viral replication in the cell models. CONCLUSION miR-182 was never investigated before, neither in HCV infection nor in NK cells, and we found it to have dysregulated expression in both liver tissues and NK cells of HCV-infected patients compared to control. In addition to that, miR-182 was found to have a contradicting effect in both effector cell and its HCV-infected target cell regarding HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shereen A El Sobky
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nada M El-Ekiaby
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Radwa Y Mekky
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha M Elemam
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames, 11835 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammad A Mohey Eldin
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University Kasr El-Aini St, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammed El-Sayed
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University Kasr El-Aini St, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Gamal Esmat
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University Kasr El-Aini St, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I Abdelaziz
- Department of Biology, American University in Cairo New Cairo, Egypt.
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El-Ekiaby NM, Mekky RY, El Sobky SA, Elemam NM, El-Sayed M, Esmat G, Abdelaziz AI. Epigenetic harnessing of HCV via modulating the lipid droplet-protein, TIP47, in HCV cell models. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:2266-73. [PMID: 26170028 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed at identifying potential microRNAs that modulate hepatic lipid droplets (LD) through targeting the Tail interacting protein of 47 kDa (TIP47) in HCV infection. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-148a and miR-30a potentially target TIP47. Expression profiling showed that both microRNAs were downregulated, while TIP47 was upregulated in liver biopsies of HCV-infected patients. Forcing the expression of both microRNAs in JFH-I infected, oleic acid-treated Huh7 cells, significantly suppressed TIP47 expression and reduced cellular LDs with marked decrease in viral RNA. This study shows that miR-148a and miR-30a, regulate TIP47 expression and LDs in HCV infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada M El-Ekiaby
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Radwa Y Mekky
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shereen A El Sobky
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha M Elemam
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Gamal Esmat
- Endemic Medicine and Hepatology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I Abdelaziz
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
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Abstract
The biological differences between males and females advocate the ultimate need for gender-specific medicine. The variation in response to viral infection as well as therapy among different genders makes it very intriguing to reveal the responsible factors for causing this discrepancy. HCV is one of the most noxious infectious diseases, however the impact of gender on the response to HCV has received negligible attention in the literature. The controversial studies concerning the effect of gender on the outcome of interferon-based therapy urge a need to judge the gender discrepancy in host factors responsible for both interferon release and action. The main aim of this review is to disentangle the interplay between sex hormones and several viral and host factors responsible for viral clearance in an attempt to clarify the role of gender in modulating the response to HCV as well as interferon-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Y Mekky
- The Molecular Pathology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Main Entrance Al Tagamoa Al Khames 11835, Cairo, Egypt
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A. Saleh M, Y. Mekky R, El-Ekiaby N, Hamdi N, Ahmed R, Rahman Zekri A, Esmat G, I. Abdelaziz A. Potent Inhibitory Effects of p7 Inhibitors on Genotype 4 HCV-infected Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.2174/2210309011202030227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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