[The influence of Kupffer cells on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
In order to explore the influence of Kupffer cells on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.


METHODS
A comparative study on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), epidermal growth factor (EGF), ras P21, p53 protein and c-myc gene by means of immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization during the diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis performed in rats with and without pretreatment with gadolinium chloride (GC) which might effectively block the activity of Kupffer cells.


RESULTS
There was no marked difference in the expression of PCNA and EGF in the liver tissue between the above two groups animals. The positive rate of ras P21 was markedly higher in the GC + DENA group than in the DENA group. The positive rate of p53 protein in GC + DENA group was slightly higher than that of the DENA group, however, the appearance of expression was markedly earlier in the former group (in the 11th and the 19th week respectively). The expression intensity of c-myc gene was markedly higher in GC + DENA group that in DENA group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that Kupffer cells can reduce hepatotoxicity induced by chemical carcinogen, and Kupffer cells may play an inhibitory effect on the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.
Department of Ultrastructural Pathology, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan 430030.
H
H
Zhu
Y
Y
Ruan
Z
Z
Wu
D000818:Animals; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D016259:Genes, myc; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D005682:Gadolinium; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); C038958:gadolinium chloride