Biological effect of ectopic expression of angiopoietin-1 and -2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the biological effect of ectopic expression of angiopoietin-1 and -2 cDNA on SMMC7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and study the possible role of the angiopoietin gene in the growth or metastasis of implantation carcinoma.


METHODS
Angiopoietin-1 and -2 cDNA were subcloned into the pcDNA3 vector and subsequently transfected into a human SMMC7721 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line without detectable angiopoietin gene expression before transfection. Then HCC cells were injected subcutaneously into 30 nude mice and the tumor growth speed and amount of newborn vasculature in the HE stained tissue were observed every 2 days till 3 weeks or the death of animals.


RESULTS
The tumor grew faster with angiopoietin-2 expression; much more blood vessels were seen in the tumor tissue than that without angiopoietin-2 expression. Angiopoietin-1 gene expression seems to have no obvious effect on the increase of vasculature and tumor growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The angiopoietin gene may play a role in the growth and progression of HCC and angiopoietin-2 seems to promote the angiogenesis of the tumor.
Peng
Lin
L
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China. pengl@21cn.com
Sun
Jian
J
Wang
Wei-Dong
WD
Jian
Zhi-Xiang
ZX
Ou
Jin-Rui
JR
D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*
D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D018076:DNA, Complementary