title: Genetic alterations in the Catnb gene but not the H-ras gene in hepatocellular neoplasms and hepatoblastomas of B6C3F(1) mice following exposure to diethanolamine for 2 years.
abstract: The present study characterized the immunohistochemical localization of beta-catenin protein in hepatocellular neoplasms and hepatoblastomas in B6C3F(1) mice exposed to diethanolamine (DEA) for 2 years and evaluated genetic alterations in the Catnb and H-ras genes which are known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of liver malignancies. Genomic DNA was isolated from paraffin sections of each liver tumor. Catnb exon 2 (corresponds to exon 3 in human) genetic alterations were identified in 18/18 (100%) hepatoblastomas from DEA exposed mice. Deletion mutations (15/18, 83%) were identified more frequently than point mutations (6/18, 33%) in hepatoblastomas. Eleven of 34 (32%) hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas from DEA treated mice had mutations in exon 2 of the beta-catenin gene, while only 1 of 10 spontaneous neoplasms had a deletion mutation of codon 5-6. Common to all liver neoplasms (hepatocellular adenomas, carcinomas and hepatoblastomas) was membrane staining for the beta-catenin protein, while cytoplasmic and nuclear staining was observed only in hepatoblastomas. The lack of H-ras mutations in hepatocellular neoplasms and hepatoblastomas suggests that the ras signal transduction pathway is not involved in the development of liver tumors following DEA exposure which is different from that of spontaneous liver tumors that often contain H-ras mutations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PO Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Shim-mo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Thai Vu
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Ton
authors.forename: Hue-Hua L
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Haseman
authors.forename: Theodora R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Devereux
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sills
mesh_terms: D018248:Adenoma, Liver Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; D002273:Carcinogens; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004983:Ethanolamines; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; C020283:diethanolamine