Background The interaction between genes and the environment in psoriasis is firmly coupled by epigenetic modification. Epigenetic modifications are inherited variations in gene expression devoid of DNA sequence alterations. Non-coding RNAs are regarded as one of the epigenetic modifications that lead eventually to enduring heritable variations in gene expression.In the present study, we chose the lncRNA, Psoriasis-susceptibility-Related RNA Gene Induced by Stress (PRINS) known to have a regulatory role in psoriasis and deduced its axis of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA through an in silico data analysis. We aimed to assess the expression levels of this lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in patients with psoriasis to elucidate their possible roles in psoriasis management. Methods We investigated the lncRNA-PRINS and its target microRNAs (miRNA124-3p, miRNA203a-5p, miRNA129-5p, miRNA146a-5p, miRNA9-5p) and partner genes (NPM, G1P3) expression levels in the plasma of 120 patients with psoriasis compared to 120 healthy volunteers using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and correlated the results with the patients' clinicopathological data. Finally, we performed a function, disease, and pathway enrichment analysis for the LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis under study. ResultsThe lncRNA PRINS, G1P3, and NPM genes showed significantly under-expressed levels while all miRNAs included in the study showed significant over-expression in patients with psoriasis relative to controls. The lncRNA PRINS, G1P3, and NPM genes showed a significant direct correlation with each other and inverse significant correlations with all miRNAs under study. All the study biomarkers showed significant results for discriminating between patients with psoriasis and controls using a receiver operating curve analysis with sensitivity over 90% except for PRINS, which was 74.2%. The G1P3 gene showed a direct significant correlation with body mass index in patients with psoriasis (p = 0.009) and an inverse significant correlation with age (p = 0.034). The NPM gene showed a significant correlation with body mass index in patients with psoriasis (p = 0.002). Conclusions Based on our results, we suggest that restoring the altered PRINS-miRNA-mRNA axis gene expression levels might represent a tool to prevent psoriasis worsening, along with standard therapy. Thus, on the clinical practice level, the PRINS-miRNA-mRNA axis expression profile can be utilized in designing specific targeted therapy aimed at applying a personalized medicine approach among patients with psoriasis.

Background and aimResponse to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific therapy is variable but might be influenced by host factors. We studied whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, IL-6-174G4C gene polymorphism, and insulin resistance affect the response to antiviral treatment in HCV-infected patients. Patients and methods Fifty-five chronic hepatitis C patients and 13 healthy individuals as controls were included in this study. Liver function tests, HCV RNA titer, ultrasonography, and histopathological examination of liver tissues were performed for all patients. Pretreatment plasma IL-6 levels and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance were estimated. The IL-6-174G4C polymorphism was detected by the PCR/RFLP method. After 12 weeks of combined pegylated interferon-a and ribavirin therapy, patients were classified into responders or nonresponders according to whether they achieved an early virological response. ResultsThe responders had significantly high IL-6 levels (P = 0.01), low mean stage of fibrosis (P = 0.03), and low viral load (P = 0.04) compared with nonresponders. Although not significant, patients with the IL-6-174 CC genotype reported a higher response rate (81%) compared with those with the CG genotype (50%) and GG genotype (62%). IL-6 level at a cutoff point of 2.15 pg/ml had 81.1% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity and showed significant relation with early virological response (P = 0.04). ConclusionEstimation of basal IL-6 level could be used as a predictor of response to pegylated interferon-a and ribavirin therapy in CHC patients.

No abstract

Background: Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with protean manifestations, which vary from no symptoms to multiple gastric diseases. Other H. pylori infections could provide protection against reflux esophagitis, and lower esophageal cancer. The current study aims to scan H. pylori strains that colonize the stomach of Egyptian patients with upper gastrointestinal disorders and its association with the endoscopic outcomes. Identification of H. pylori strains was done by PCR amplification of the 16s rRNA gene from gastric biopsies, proved to be positive for H. pylori by both Giemsa stain and histopathology. PCR products were purified, sequenced, and aligned to GenBank. Results: BLAST results of H. pylori 16s rRNA gene sequences showed identity between Egyptian H. pylori isolates and four H. pylori strain subpopulations: hspSAfrica, hspEAsia, hpEurope, hspWAfrica. The frequency of H. pylori isolates that showed identity to hspEAsia subpopulation was significantly higher in Ulcerative lesions. H. pylori isolates from ulcerative and neoplasm specimens illustrate base substitutions in 16s rRNA gene variable 9 region compared to the consensus sequence of H. pylori 43504 16s rRNA. Conclusion: Different H. pylori strains may be associated with differences in the clinical manifestations and could be used as a prognostic marker to predict the outcome of the H. pylori-associated diseases.

No abstract