Association between Cluster of Differentiation 24 (CD24) Polymorphism, Talin-1 gene expression and Hepatocellular Carcinoma prevalence in Egyptian population

Introduction Background: Hepatitis C is considered as one of the most popular diseases in Egypt. Our aim is to clarify the association between Cluster of Differentiation 24 (CD24) polymorphism, Talin-1 gene expression and the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian Hepatitis C virus patients. Material and methods The link between CD24 polymorphism rs8734 and the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma was assessed between 200 control subjects and 400 hepatitis C virus patients (HCV), patients were classified as follows; 200 patients with HCV and 200 with HCV and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by histopathological assessment and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results Results: The hepatitis c patients with HCC showed significant increase in alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and Talin-1 gene expression compared to patients with HCV as well as in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, the frequencies of CD 24 170 CT/TT genotype were significantly higher in HCV patients without complications (60%) when compared to CC genotype (40%) (OR= 6 at X2= 14.41, P = 0.0007), and in HCV with HCC patients (90%) when compared to CC genotype (10%) (OR= 36 at X2= 14.41, P = 0.0007). Conclusions These data suggests that CD24 genetic polymorphism rs8734 and Talin-1 gene expression may be a significant determinant for the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV patients.