Correlation between loss of PTEN expression and PKB/AKT phosphorylation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
The clinical significance of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) protein expression and the correlation between the expression of PTEN and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated. The expression of PTEN and phospho-AKT was detected by SP immunohistochemical technique and Western blotting in 35 cases of HCC, 15 cases of liver cirrhosis and 8 cases of normal tissues. The correlation between the expression of PTEN and PKB/AKT in HCC was analyzed. The results showed that the positive expression of PTEN in HCC (62.9%, 0.085 +/- 0.021) was significantly lower than that in liver cirrhosis and normal tissues (P < 0. 01). The expression level of PTEN was related to the differentiation degree of HCC and the status of metastasis (P < 0.05). Western blotting revealed a significant inverse correlation between PTEN and phospho-AKT (r = -0.818, P < 0.01). These results demonstrated that down-regulation or loss of PTEN, which may not be able to effectively inhibit the hyper-phosphorylation of PKB/AKT, might play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression of HCC.
Yang
Zhifang
Z
Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Yi
Jilin
J
Li
Xingrui
X
Long
Wei
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human