Effect of hepatitis C virus core protein on modulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is believed to be an important human pathogen causing carcinoma. But the effect of HCV infection on the alteration of cellular proliferation and apoptosis and the relationship between the effect and the development of hilar cholangiocarcinoma are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of HCV core protein on proliferation and apoptosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.


METHODS
HCV core protein (HCV C protein) was detected by peroxidase-antiperoxidase assay in surgical specimens from 48 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The apoptosis index (AI) and PCNA index (PI) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma were detected by in situ end labeling assay and streptavidin-biotin assay respectively.


RESULTS
The expression of HCV C protein was observed in 32 (67.7%) of the 48 specimens of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The mean+/-standard deviation for AI and PI was 3.52%+/-0.64% and 46.24%+/-11.46% respectively. The AI of hilar cholangiocarcinoma specimens with HCV C protein expression was significantly lower than that of HCV C protein negative specimens (P<0.01), whereas the PI of HCV C protein positive specimens was significantly higher than that of HCV C protein negative specimens (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HCV C protein may promote the cellular proliferation of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and inhibit its cellular apoptosis.
Chen
Ru-Fu
RF
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510120, China. chenrf63@163.com
Li
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Zou
Sheng-Quan
SQ
Chen
Ji-Sheng
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus