MMP-2 gene expression at mRNA level in HBV and HCV infected patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family play a determinative role in the development of liver fibrosis, metastasis, unregulated angiogenesis, and tumor growth. In this study the possible association between the MMP-2 gene expression level and risk of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were evaluated in liver transplanted patients. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) liver tissue samples were collected from 225 transplant patients between years 2012 and 2016. The presence of HBV and HCV infections were analyzed in patients studied using molecular and immunologic diagnostic protocols according to the instructions of the manufacturers. Patients were divided to HBV, HCV, and HBV with HCV co-infected groups. A healthy control group was also included. For the quantitative analysis of MMP-2 mRNA gene expression an in-house-SYBR Green Real-Time PCR method was performed. The level of MMP-2 mRNA expression showed a significant increase in all studied viral hepatitis infected patient groups in comparing with healthy controls. The MMP-2 gene expression level increased in HBV infected patients when compared with HCV and HBV with HCV co-infected patients, but not significantly. Results showed a significant increase in MMP-2 expression level in all viral hepatitis single and coinfected liver transplanted patients when compared with the controls and also in HBV infected patients when compered with other viral infected ones, need to confirm in further completed studies.