Study of Epidermal Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism in Hepatitis C Virus Induced Liver Cirrhosis with or without Treatment

: Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a mitogen for hepatocytes, and plays a critical role in liver tissue regeneration. Many signaling pathways especially pathways that regulate the physiological processes such as tumor cells growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis had been studied in the era of HCC development such as the EGF signal pathway. During the past few years, there have been enormous efforts to understand the structure and life cycle of hepatitis C virus (HCV) as well as to develop specific medications targeting different viral proteins such as NS3/4A protease, NS5B polymerase, and NS5A replication complex. The discovery of direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) represented a revolution in the management of chronic hepatitis C virus infection Objectives: to investigate polymorphism of the gene encoding EGF in HCV-induced liver cirrhosis whether receiving antiviral treatment or not. Methods: Sixty Egyptian patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty patients pre-diagnosed as HCV-induced liver cirrhosis and received antiviral treatment in the form of Daklatasvir, Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin for 3 months and sustained virological response (SVR) was obtained, 20 patients diagnosed as HCV-induced liver cirrhosis and not receiving treatment yet, and 20 healthy person of matched age and sex as control group). Genotyping for EGF gene was performed by real time PCR. Results: With regards to polymorphism of EGF gene there are three genotypes; A/A, A/G and G/G that were detected in the three studied groups. The frequency of EGF gene polymorphism in HCV control group, the frequency was (AA 65 %, AG 15%, GG 20%). Upon examining the allelic discrimination, A allele was present in 35% of HCV patient who received treatment versus 32.5% of HCV patient who did not receive treatment and 72.5% of control group. On the other hand, G allele was present in 65% of HCV patients who received treatment versus 67.5% of HCV patients who did not receive treatment and 17.5% of control group. Conclusion: No significant effect of antiviral treatment on EGF gene.