Abstracto
Impact of smoking on serum osteopontin in patients with hepatitis crelated cirrhosis and Itâsrole in hepatocarcinogenesis.
Mohammed Mohammed Shamseya, Sameh Aldesoky Lashen*, Ayman Mohammed Shamseya, Marwa Ahmed Madkour, Magda Abd El-Ghany Megahed, Thoria Mohammed Dawood, Osama Ghazy Badr
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) related liver disease, culminating into hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC), is a prevalent disease in Egypt. Smoking is linked to multiple health-related problems.
Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein, highly expressed in bone. Its overexpression has been
observed in various human tumors. Its role in HCC has generated significant interest.
Aim: To study the effect of heavy smoking on levels of osteopontin and its possible role in HCV related
HCC.
Material and Methods: 180 volunteers were included and divided into 6 equal groups: Group 1:
normal healthy persons. Group 2: hepatitis C-negative smokers. Group 3: HCV-positive cirrhotic nonsmokers.
Group 4: HCV-positive cirrhotic heavy smokers. Group 5: HCV-positive cirrhotic patients
with HCC and non-smokers. Group 6: HCV-positive cirrhotic patients with HCC and heavy smokers.
All subjects were evaluated using as regards HCV-Abs, HBsAg, aminotransferases, serum bilirubin,
serum albumin, serum C-reactive protein, serum iron, serum alpha-fetoprotein, and serum
osteopontin.
Results: The results showed a statistically significant elevation of the mean serum OPN level in group 4
in comparison to both groups 1 and 2, and in group 6 in comparison to both groups 1 and 2. There is
also a statistically significant elevation of the mean serum OPN level in group 2 in comparison to group
1, in group 4 in comparison to both groups 3 and 5, and in group 6 in comparison to both groups 3 and
5.
Conclusion: Smoking increases osteopontin levels in sera of HCV-positive patients compared to its
level in HCV-positive nonsmokers.