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Mondal T, Smith CI, Loffredo CA, Quartey R, Moses G, Howell CD, Korba B, Kwabi-Addo B, Nunlee-Bland G, R. Rucker L, Johnson J, Ghosh S. Transcriptomics of MASLD Pathobiology in African American Patients in the Washington DC Area †. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16654. [PMID: 38068980 PMCID: PMC10706626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and is of concern among African Americans (AA) in the United States. This pilot study evaluated the differential gene expressions and identified the signature genes in the disease pathways of AA individuals with MASLD. Blood samples were obtained from MASLD patients (n = 23) and non-MASLD controls (n = 24) along with their sociodemographic and medical details. Whole-blood transcriptomic analysis was carried out using Affymetrix Clarion-S Assay. A validation study was performed utilizing TaqMan Arrays coupled with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify the major disease pathways. Out of 21,448 genes in total, 535 genes (2.5%) were significantly (p < 0.05) and differentially expressed when we compared the cases and controls. A significant overlap in the predominant differentially expressed genes and pathways identified in previous studies using hepatic tissue was observed. Of note, TGFB1 and E2F1 genes were upregulated, and HMBS was downregulated significantly. Hepatic fibrosis signaling is the top canonical pathway, and its corresponding biofunction contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings address the knowledge gaps regarding how signature genes and functional pathways can be detected in blood samples ('liquid biopsy') in AA MASLD patients, demonstrating the potential of the blood samples as an alternative non-invasive source of material for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanmoy Mondal
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (T.M.); (G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Coleman I. Smith
- MedStar-Georgetown Transplantation Institute, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | | | - Ruth Quartey
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20007, USA; (R.Q.); (C.D.H.)
| | - Gemeyel Moses
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (T.M.); (G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Charles D. Howell
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20007, USA; (R.Q.); (C.D.H.)
| | - Brent Korba
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | - Bernard Kwabi-Addo
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA;
| | - Gail Nunlee-Bland
- Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA;
| | - Leanna R. Rucker
- Department of Internal Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | - Jheannelle Johnson
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (T.M.); (G.M.); (J.J.)
| | - Somiranjan Ghosh
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA; (T.M.); (G.M.); (J.J.)
- Departments of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA;
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