Expression of MAGE-1 and -3 genes and gene products in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
MAGE gene family encodes peptides recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I restricted fashion. In the present study, we have performed reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the genes, as well as immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting of MAGE-1 and -3 proteins in 33 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). MAGE-1 and -3 mRNAs were constitutively expressed exclusively in 78 and 42% of HCCs respectively. On immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies, 77B for MAGE-1 and 57B for MAGE-3, MAGE-1 and -3 proteins were recognized in cytoplasm of only six among 33 (18%) and two of 29 HCCs (7%) respectively. The distribution pattern was mostly focal in HCC nodules. By contrast, the Western blot analysis revealed that the MAGE-1 (46 kDa) and -3 proteins (48 kDa) were expressed in 80 and 60% of 15 HCCs examined respectively. The proteins of MAGE-1 and -3 were also expressed exclusively in HCCs regardless of the histological grading and clinical staging. Our results indicate that the detection of the genes by RT-PCR or the proteins by Western blotting is useful for differentiating early HCCs from non-cancerous lesions, and that the peptides derived from MAGE-1 and -3 proteins might be suitable targets for immunotherapy of human HCC.
Kariyama
K
K
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama-City, Japan.
Higashi
T
T
Kobayashi
Y
Y
Nouso
K
K
Nakatsukasa
H
H
Yamano
T
T
Ishizaki
M
M
Kaneyoshi
T
T
Toshikuni
N
N
Ohnishi
T
T
Fujiwara
K
K
Nakayama
E
E
Terracciano
L
L
Spagnoli
G C
GC
Tsuji
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C072011:MAGEA1 protein, human; C072013:MAGEA3 protein, human; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins