Concordance of cancer-associated cytokines and mitochondrial DNA deletions in individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma and people living with HIV in Ghana

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming increasingly prevalent as a non-AIDS-defining cancer closely tied to chronic HIV infection. It is associated with increased secretion of inflammatory cytokines, immune system dysfunction, and alterations in mitochondrial function. The objective of this study was to investigate the levels of cytokine secretion and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared with individuals diagnosed with HCC without HIV. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with PLWH and HCC patients recruited from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Participants donated whole blood for the isolation of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for analysis. Cytokines were quantified in plasma samples using ELISA and Luminex techniques, while mtDNA deletions were determined with DNA extracted from the PBMCs. Results: The study found that the secretion of the cytokines TGF-β, FGF2, IL-8, TNF-α, VEGFA, and RANTES was similar in patients with HCC and PLWH. These cytokines have been implicated in HCC initiation and are also elevated in the early stages of the disease. Moreover, we observed comparably high levels of mtDNA deletion in PLWH and HCC patients. Conclusions: These findings underscore the risks associated with HCC development in PLWH. There is a need for screening among PLWH, and these differentially expressed cytokines could serve as potential biomarkers.