Overexpression of prothymosin alpha, concomitant with c-myc, during rat hepatic carcinogenesis.
By using a subtraction-enhanced display technique, we identified a cDNA clone representing alpha-prothymosin, from rat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). alpha-Prothymosin has been reported to be involved in cell proliferation and regulated by c-myc gene in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the gene expression pattern of alpha-prothymosin and analyzed its correlation with c-myc during rat hepatic carcinogenesis and liver regeneration. Hepatic alpha-prothymosin mRNA levels, concomitant with c-myc, were increased at the early stage of hepatic carcinogenesis (6 weeks), and remained nearly 10 fold higher as the tumor progressed. In comparison, alpha-prothymosin mRNA levels were only slightly and moderately increased at early (3-6 hr) and at later stage (24-30 hr) of liver regeneration after 70% partial hepatectomy. In situ hybridization revealed that overexpressed alpha-prothymosin mRNA was restricted to the tumor nodules and to tumor cells invading blood vessels. These data provide evidence that overexpression of alpha-prothymosin, concomitant with c-myc, is related to rat hepatic carcinogenesis.
Wu
C G
CG
Department of Experimental Internal Medicine, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Boers
W
W
Reitsma
P R
PR
van Deventer
S J
SJ
Chamuleau
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D016259:Genes, myc; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin