Virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis involves liver inflammation, therefore, despite successful treatment, hepatitis C virus (HCV) may progress to HCC from initiated liver cirrhosis. Cytotoxic T cells (Tcs) are known to be involved in HCV-related cirrhotic complications and HCC pathogenesis. The inhibitory checkpoint leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is expressed on Tcs. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the Tc expression level of LAIR-1 is associated with HCC progression and to evaluate LAIR-1 expression as a noninvasive biomarker for HCC progression in the context of liver cirrhosis related to HCV genotype 4 (G4) in Egyptian patients’ peripheral venous blood liquid biopsy. A total of 64 patients with HCC and 37 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this case-controlled study, and their LAIR-1 expression on Tc related to the progression of liver cirrhosis was examined and compared to that of the apparently healthy control group (n = 20). LAIR-1 expression was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: The HCC group had significantly higher LAIR-1 expression on Tc and percentage of Tc positive for LAIR-1 (LAIR-1+Tc%) than the HCV G4-related liver cirrhosis group. LAIR-1+Tc% was correlated with the HCC surrogate tumor marker AFP (r = 0.367, p = 0.001) and insulin resistance and inflammation prognostic ratios/indices. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that adding LAIR-1+Tc% to AFP can distinguish HCC transformation in the Egyptian patients’ cohort. Upregulated LAIR-1 expression on Tc could be a potential screening noninvasive molecular marker for chronic inflammatory HCV G4 related liver cirrhosis. Moreover, LAIR-1 expression on Tc may be one of the players involved in the progression of liver cirrhosis to HCC.

Background and Aim. Since virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis involves liver inflammation, therefore, post-hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection would be a cause for liver cirrhosis that would progress to HCC. Cytotoxic T cells (Tc) are known to be involved in post-HCV complications and HCC pathogenesis. The inhibitory checkpoint Leukocyte-Associated Immunoglobulin-like Receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is expressed on Tc. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether the Tc expression level of LAIR-1 is associated with HCC progression post-HCV and moreover, to evaluate LAIR-1 expression as a non-invasive biomarker for HCC progression in the context of liver cirrhosis post-HCV genotype 4 (G4) in Egyptian patients’ peripheral venous blood liquid biopsy. We studied LAIR-1 expression on Tc related to the progression of liver cirrhosis in a case-controlled study enrolled 64 patients with post-HCV G4-HCC and 37 patients with post-HCV G4-liver cirrhosis. Methods: LAIR-1 expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: LAIR-1 expression on Tc and the percentage of Tc positive for LAIR-1 (LAIR-1+Tc %) were significantly higher in the post-HCV G4-HCC group compared to the post-HCV G4-liver cirrhosis

This study investigated the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of Fc receptor-like 1 (FCRL1) and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) mRNA expression in Egyptian patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) undergoing the standard R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The results demonstrated that FCRL1 and BAFF mRNA expression were significantly elevated in DLBCL patients compared to healthy controls. A strong positive correlation existed between BAFF and FCRL1 expression levels. Diagnostic performance assessed through combined ROC curve analysis revealed that BAFF, FCRL1, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) achieved perfect diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 1.0), demonstrating 100% sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Further prognostic analysis using COX regression identified elevated FCRL1 expression as the most significant predictor of poor clinical outcomes. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis reinforced this finding, with high FCRL1 expression showing significant associations with reduced overall survival (OS, p = 0.031) and progression-free survival (PFS, p = 0.038). The study underscores the potential utility of BAFF and FCRL1 mRNA as diagnostic markers for DLBCL, with FCRL1 emerging as a promising prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target enabling more tailored treatment approaches for DLBCL, the most common type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and patients receiving R-CHOP therapy.

Background: Hepatocyte nuclear factors were first identified as liver-enriched transcription factors that might participate in various activities related to the transcription of genes unique to the liver. Objective: The study aimed to reveal the impact of HNF1A gene variations on disease progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and its relation to serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Methods: Participants in the study were classified as Group I, 32 HCC patients; Group II, 36 chronic hepatitis C patients; and Group III, 26 healthy volunteers as a control group. Each patient underwent full history taking, thorough clinical examination, and radiological examination. Furthermore, tumor staging was done using BCLC staging system. HNF1A gene polymorphisms (rs 2,464,196 and rs 1,169,310) were genotyped by real-time PCR. Results: The findings revealed the highest frequency of AA and GA genotypes of HNF1A (rs2464196) polymorphism in both HCC (P = 0.002) and chronic HCV (P = 0.004) patients in comparison with controls. Regarding rs1169310gene polymorphism, no significant variation was observed across various genotypes when comparing the experimental groups to the control group. Additionally, HCC patients harboring the AA genotype for rs2464196 had significantly increased AFP (≥ 200 ng/ml) levels, whereas HCC patients with rs1169310 SNPs for HNF1A had no significant association regarding the AFP level. Conclusion: The rs2464196 polymorphism of HNF1 is associated with increased AFP levels and HCC disease progression, which may be a prognostic and diagnostic genetic indicator.

Neopterin, a guanosine triphosphate metabolite, is an indicator for cell-mediated immunity. Kynurenine performs a variety of biological functions, such as the dilation of blood vessels in response to inflammation and the regulation of immune response. Objectives: to assess serum neopterin and kynurenine levels in Egyptian children with sickle cell disease (SCD). In our case-control study, we included 40 children aged 2–18 years with SCD treated at the Hematology Unit of the Department of Pediatrics, Menoufia University Hospital and 40 healthy controls matched on age, sex, and socio-economic status. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Menoufia Faculty of Medicine. We obtained comprehensive health history data of the study participants and performed necessary clinical examinations and tests including complete blood count, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin electrophoresis. Serum neopterin and kynurenine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the patients with SCD, serum neopterin and kynurenine levels were significantly higher during vaso-occlusive crisis than in a steady state, and much higher than in the controls (p 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between serum neopterin concentrations and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels, platelets, HbF, HbS, and HbA2, and a significant negative correlation between serum neopterin levels and height, Hb, hematocrit and HbA1. We also observed a significant positive correlation between serum kynurenine and body mass index, HbA2, HbF, HbS, and platelets and a significant negative correlation between serum kynurenine and hemoglobin, hematocrit and HbA1. The cases were shown to have higher neopterin and kynurenine levels than the controls. The concentrations of neopterin and kynurenine were higher in the patients during vaso-occlusive crises than in a steady state.

β-thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder with long-term associated complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the lncRNA-HBBP1 and lncRNA-XIST expression profiles in the diagnosis of β-thalassemia patients. One hundred children patients with β-thalassemia participated in this case-control study: 50 patients diagnosed as Beta Thalassemia Major (β-TM) and 50 patients diagnosed as Beta Thalassemia Intermedia (β-TI) groups. Furthermore, there were 50 children as healthy control group. Assessment of both genes’ expression was performed by RT-qPCR. The findings displayed that both lncRNA-HBBP1 and lncRNA-XIST were highly expressed within the β-TM group than in the β-TI and the control groups ( P < 0.001 for both). The lncRNA-HBBP1 and lncRNA-XIST expression were significantly higher in β-thalassemia patients presented with jaundice, thalassemia facies, or organomegaly ( p < 0.001 for all). In addition, lncRNA-XIST expression was significantly higher in β-thalassemia patients with splenectomy ( p = 0.002). Spearman correlation revealed that the expression of both genes was significantly correlated with HbF % in β-TM and β-TI groups ( p < 0.001 for both). Based on the ROC curve analysis, the sensitivity of lncRNA-HBBP1 and lncRNA-XIST for discriminating the β-TM group from the β-TI group was 82% and 80%, respectively. Collectively, the examined lncRNAs could offer novel biomarkers for β-thalassemia disorder once confirmed in extensive upcoming investigations.