A pre-neoplastic epigenetic field defect in HCV-infected liver at transcription factor binding sites and polycomb targets.

ABSTRACT: The predisposition of patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves components of viral infection, inflammation and time. The development of multifocal, genetically distinct tumours is suggestive of a field defect affecting the entire liver. The molecular susceptibility mediating such a field defect is not understood. One potential mediator of long-term cellular reprogramming is heritable (epigenetic) regulation of transcription, exemplified by DNA methylation. We studied epigenetic and transcriptional changes in HCV-infected livers in comparison with control, uninfected livers and HCC, allowing us to identify pre-neoplastic epigenetic and transcriptional events. We find the HCV-infected liver to have a pattern of acquisition of DNA methylation

SUBMITTER: Wijetunga NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5383522 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature