Modulatory Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Circulating p53, miR-21, and miR-125b: Any Diagnostic Implication?
, Anthony Ajuluchukwu Ngokere 1, Chinedum Charles Onyenekwe 1, Olaposi Idowu Omotuyi 4, Samuel Ifedioranma Ogenyi 1, Chioma Maureen Obi 1 and Samuel Ayobami Fasogbon 5
Ana Teresa G. Fernandes
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I believe that the work has an important clinical relevance, however, the results need to be described a little better. There are results that need to be further explained and discussed.
Comments:
1- Proceed with English revisions in the entire document.
2- In topic “Introduction, line 44, the authors informed that “Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women behind breast cancer”, however, this cancer is the fourth most common, according to World Health Organization.
3- In topic “Results’, figure 1 (page 4) presents relevant results, however, it is only mentioned, without any explanation in the text. Furthermore, the figure deserves a better description. The authors do not inform, for example, what would be 1A g, 1Bg...
Author Response
We thank you for your insightful comments and suggestions on our manuscript. We added a little more description in the discussion section. However, we want to state that we discussed our findings based on relevant available literature without appearing too assertive. Please see the responses to your comments (1-3) below:
- Please see tracked changes were necessary.
- The section has been revised to reflect the recent WHO report. The reference section has been updated accordingly.
- A better description has been provided. Please see lines 164-167 of the revised manuscript.
Thank you once again.
Reviewer 2 Report
Clinicians continue to have difficulties in identifying immunocompromised women who are at risk of getting cervical cancer. In order to determine the role of HIV in cervical carcinogenesis, these authors examined the levels of normally downregulated oncomirs (miR-21, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-182, and miR-200c) and normally upregulated tumor suppressors (miR-let-7b, miR-125b, miR-143, miR-145, and p53 expression) in the serum of HIV+ and HIV- women. In this way, these authors found that HIV+ women had greater levels of miR-21 than HIV- women (p= 0.028), but HIV- women had lower levels of miR-125 and the p53 gene (p= 0.050 and 0.049, respectively). Significant direct connections between miR-21 and other oncomirs were found among HIV+ women (p 0.05). In this way, the authors concluded that HIV may contribute to cervical carcinogenesis by modifying circulating levels of miR-21, p53, and miR-125b. These biomarkers might be used to identify women who are at high risk.
I found this study interesting and relevant in the field.
I found that this study would provide new insight into the knowledge of cervical cancer and HIV.
The article is well written.
The methodology is fine and no further control is required.
The conclusion, in my opinion, is consistent with the data and justifications provided.
Minor points:
All of the provided figures' captions are unclear.
Given that the current study is about cervical cancer and the role of various miRNAs, the author should include this study (PMID: 35318393).
Author Response
We thank you for your kind comments and suggestions on our manuscript. Please see the responses to your comments (1-2) below:
- Better descriptions have been provided for the figures. Please see tracked changes.
- Reference to the paper (PMID: 35318393) has been made where necessary. Please see lines 263-265. The reference section has been updated accordingly.
