title: Expression of gap junction protein connexin32 in chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gap junction (GJ) plays important roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, the control of cell growth and differentiation, and the prevention of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we examined the relationship between the expression of the GJ protein connexin (Cx) 32 in 24 human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 29 non-carcinomatous liver specimens (NCLs) of 31 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An immunohistochemical study of Cx32 was done in 24 HCCs and 29 NCLs from 31 patients who had undergone hepatic resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Cx32 expression decreased gradually as the disease progressed to cirrhosis and HCC. In all Cx32 positive HCCs, the expression was mostly recognized in cytoplasm, not only on the cell membrane. This internalization of Cx32 was also recognized in liver specimens showing hepatitis and cirrhosis, although it was less frequent than in the HCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the possibility that changes in both the amount and the distribution of Cx32 may be implicated in human hepatocarcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamanoi
authors.forename: Osama Nazmy
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: El-Assal
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagasue
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000473:pathology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D000097002:Gap Junction beta-1 Protein