[Gene expression of TGF-beta1 and its type II receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta(1)) and its type II receptor (TGF-beta R II) in hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
The expression of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta R II at mRNA level and protein level in 30 cases of HCC was separately detected using reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry technique.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the expression of TGF-beta(1) at mRNA level between HCC tissue (24/30) and surrounding liver tissue (26/30). At the protein level, however, the expression of TGF-beta(1) decreased in HCC tissue compared with that in the surrounding liver tissue (P < 0.01). The expression of TGF-beta R II mRNA decreased significantly in HCC tissue (11/30) compared with that in the surrounding liver tissue (23/30) (P < 0.01). The less HCC expressed TGF-beta R II mRNA, the poorer the tumoral hepatocytes differentiated (P < 0.01) and the more likely the portal vein metastasis and cancer embolus appeared (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In the negative growth regulation of tumoral hepatocytes by TGF-beta(1), two defects take place: the expression of TGF-beta(1) at the protein level and the expression of TGF-beta R II at the mRNA level.
Liu
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C
Department of General Surgery, Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510120.
Chen
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S
Ou
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II