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Somayeh Shokri1 
, Farid Azizi Jalilian2 , Razieh Amini3 , Ali Shojaeian3 , Fatemeh Torkaman Asadi4 , Shahab Mahmoudvand *5
, Farid Azizi Jalilian2 , Razieh Amini3 , Ali Shojaeian3 , Fatemeh Torkaman Asadi4 , Shahab Mahmoudvand *5
1- Infectious Disease Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
3- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
5- Cancer Research Centre, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,mahmoudvandsh100@gmail.com
2- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
3- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
5- Cancer Research Centre, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,
Abstract: (310 Views)
Background and Objective: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major global health concern and is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) plays a crucial role in regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway, a key signaling cascade involved in cell survival and proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the expression of PTEN mRNA in the whole blood of patients with chronic HCV infection compared to healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were collected from 50 patients with chronic HCV infection and 50 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood and converted to cDNA. PTEN expression was quantified using SYBR Green-based Real-time PCR, with GAPDH as the internal control. Data were analyzed using the 2^-ΔΔCt method and appropriate statistical tests.
Results: PTEN expression was significantly downregulated in the patient group compared to controls (fold change = 0.085; p < 0.0001), indicating an approximately 8.5-fold reduction. Age-stratified analysis revealed the lowest PTEN expression in patients over 50 years of age. These findings suggest systemic molecular alterations in HCV-infected individuals and a potential age-related pattern of PTEN suppression.
Conclusion: The marked reduction of PTEN mRNA expression in chronic HCV patients highlights its potential role in HCV pathogenesis and progression to HCC. PTEN may serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in chronic HCV infection.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were collected from 50 patients with chronic HCV infection and 50 healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood and converted to cDNA. PTEN expression was quantified using SYBR Green-based Real-time PCR, with GAPDH as the internal control. Data were analyzed using the 2^-ΔΔCt method and appropriate statistical tests.
Results: PTEN expression was significantly downregulated in the patient group compared to controls (fold change = 0.085; p < 0.0001), indicating an approximately 8.5-fold reduction. Age-stratified analysis revealed the lowest PTEN expression in patients over 50 years of age. These findings suggest systemic molecular alterations in HCV-infected individuals and a potential age-related pattern of PTEN suppression.
Conclusion: The marked reduction of PTEN mRNA expression in chronic HCV patients highlights its potential role in HCV pathogenesis and progression to HCC. PTEN may serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in chronic HCV infection.
Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, PTEN, Gene expression, Tumor suppressor, Real-time PCR, Hepatocellular carcinoma
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Medical Biology
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2026/02/8
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2026/02/8
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