Opposing Expressions of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 Genes in the Development of Liver Cirrhosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background and Objective: The roles of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 genes as significant factors in the metabolism of the extracellular matrix have been demonstrated in the fibrosis of various tissues. This study investigates the gene expressions of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 in the liver tissue of patients with cirrhosis, as well as in patients with simple non-alcoholic steatosis and control subjects. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 38 tissue samples were collected and analyzed across three groups: cirrhosis (24 samples), simple steatosis (6 samples), and the control group (8 samples). The expression of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 genes was investigated using RT-qPCR. Results: The gene expressions of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 in tissues affected by cirrhosis were significantly lower compared to the control group (P=0.001 and P=0.008, respectively). The Nidogen-1 gene exhibited the lowest expression in tissues with Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis when compared to the control group, while its expression in tissues with simple steatosis fell between that of the NASH cirrhosis and control groups. Conversely, the expression of the Cdc42 gene in tissues with simple steatosis was significantly lower than in liver tissues with NASH cirrhosis (P=0.043). Conclusion: The gene expressions of Nidogen-1 and Cdc42 decrease in cirrhosis; however, they exhibit different levels between steatosis and NASH cirrhosis. Therefore, the anti-fibrotic role of Nidogen-1 and the involvement of Cdc42 in fibrosis formation are plausible