[The effect of HCV NS3 protein on expression of p53 gene protein in hepatocarcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hepatocarcinogenesis by detecting the effect of HCV NS3 protein on expression of P53 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pericarcinomatous liver tissue.


METHODS
The expression of HCV NS3 and P53 protein was detected by immuno-histochemical technique (SP method) in specimens of HCC and their surrounding liver tissues from 47 patients with negative HBV.


RESULTS
The positive rate of HCV NS3 protein was lower in HCC(62%) than in pericarcinomatous liver tissue(83%) (P < 0.025). The expressive strength of HCV NS3 protein in HCC was related to the degree of carcinomatous cell differentiation(P < 0.025). The positive rate of P53 protein in carcinomatous tissue(81%) was higher than in pericarcinomatous liver tissue (47%)(P < 0.025). The worse differentiation of cancer cells, the stronger expression of P53 protein (P < 0.05). The expression of P53 protein was not correlated with the expression of HCV NS3 protein in carcinomatous tissiue (P > 0.5), whereas their expression was closely related in pericarcinomatous liver tissue(P < 0.01), and the expressive rate of P53 protein in the cases of positive HCV NS3 protein was higher than that in the cases of negative HCV NS3 protein.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV NS3 protein may exert its hepatocarcinogenic effect in early stage on host cells by endogenous pathway which may bring about mutation of p53 gene and transformation of hepatocytes.
Department of Pathology, Hunan Medical University, Changsha.
D
D
Feng
H
H
Zheng
Y
Y
Yan
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases