[Effect of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein on expression of iNOS mRNA in hepatocarcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hepatocarcinogenesis by detecting the effect of HCV NS3 protein on expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pericarcinomatous liver tissues(PCLT).


METHODS
The expression of HCV NS3 protein and iNOSmRNA was detected by immunohistochemical technique (SP method) and in situ hybridization in specimens of HCC and PCLT from 52 patients with HBV(-). The relationship between the positive rate and the signal strength was tested statistically.


RESULTS
The positive rate of HCV NS3 protein in HCC was lower (46.2% vs. 67.3%), and signal strength was weaker than those in PCLT. The signal strength of HCV NS3 protein was correlated with the degree of carcinomatous cells differentiation in HCC (P < 0.01). The positive rates (80.8% and 90.4%) of iNOSmRNA in HCC and PCLT had no statistical difference. Signal intensity of iNOSmRNA in HCC was weaker than that in PCLT. The higher HCVNS3 protein expression level was, the stronger iNOSmRNA signals in PCLT (P < 0.01). In particular, the localization and patterns of HCV NS3 protein were much similar to those of iNOSmRNA in the PCLT of some patients.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV NS3 protein may exert its hepatocarcinogenic effect in the early stage on host cells by increasing product of nitric oxide, which may bring about transformation of hepatocytes.
Feng
D Y
DY
Department of Pathology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Cheng
R X
RX
Zheng
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C496319:NOS2 protein, human