Down regulation of DRET gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues samples from Qidong area, China.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the expression of DRET gene in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) tissue specimens in comparison with normal liver tissue to evaluate the relationship between DRET gene and HCC.


METHODS
250 primary HCCs and 50 normal liver tissue samples from Qidong area, China, were studied for DRET mRNA and protein expression with the use of Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
By Northern analysis, moderate to strong DRET mRNA expression was present in normal liver samples. In contrast, DRET mRNA expression in tissue samples of primary HCCs was markedly decreased compared with normal controls. Primary HCCs that gave rise to metastasis showed significantly lower DRET mRNA levels than nonmetastasizing HCCs. By in situ hybridization analysis, nonmetastatic HCCs samples didn't differ from controls. In contrast, most of the primary metastasizing HCC showed only faint or moderate DRET mRNA expression. Tissue sections of nonmetastatic HCC exhibited lower DRET immunoreactivity than control samples, but higher labeling index than metastatic HCC samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of DRET on mRNA and protein levels in HCC cells is related to HCC metastatic ability.
Lu
Dong-Dong
DD
College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China. Ludondon88@163.com
Zhang
Xi-Ran
XR
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
D012333:RNA, Messenger