[Expression of c-erbB-2 protein and EGF receptor in hepatitis B, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma].
The expressions of c-erbB-2 oncogene and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were investigated immunohistochemically in specimens from 184 cases of hepatitis B, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 29 normal liver specimens. EGFR was expressed in 36% (48/134) of the hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disorder specimens and it was immunolocalized mainly in the sinusoidal endothelial cells. No significant difference was found between EGFR expression in HCC and in benign chronic liver disorders. These results indicate that EGFR may have some role in the proliferation of the sinusoidal epithelial cells in chronic liver disease. Low level c-erbB-2 expression was observed in 5/29 (17%) of normal liver specimens. In chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, its expression was found in all specimens. c-erbB-2 protein was immunolocalized mainly in small polygonal liver cells (SPLCs) and hepatocytes in small-cell dysplasia (SCD) and in ductular metaplasia (DM); c-erbB-2 expression in HCC cells was found to be weaker than in SPLCs, the hepatocytes in SCD and in DM. These results indicate that activated c-erbB-2 oncogene may have a role in human HCC genesis through promoting the development of SCD from SPLC proliferation and the progression of SCD. The close relation between the expression of c-erbB-2 and HBxAg imply that the activation of c-erbB-2 in human liver tissues may be related to HBV X gene.
Su
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Q
Department of Pathology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an.
Liu
Y
Y
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein