Expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and matrix metalloproteinase-9 and their effects on angiogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate the relationship between iNOS and MMP-9 expression and their effects on angiogenesis and progression of HCC.


METHODS
In this study, we examined iNOS, MMP-9, and CD34 expression in specimens surgically removed from 32 HCC patients and 7 normal liver tissues by immunohistochemical staining. Meanwhile, microvessel density (MVD) was determined as a marker of angiogenesis by counting CD34-positive cells.


RESULTS
The positive rates of iNOS and MMP-9 expression were 71.88% (23/32) and 78.13% (25/32) in HCC. MMP-9 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, capsule status, TNM stage, and risk of HCC recurrence (P = 0.032, P = 0.033, P = 0.007, and P = 0.001, respectively). There was also a significant relationship between iNOS expression and capsule status and risk of HCC recurrence (P = 0.049 and P = 0.004, respectively), but no correlation between iNOS expression and tumor size and TNM stage. There was a positive association between MVD and TNM stage and risk of HCC recurrence (P = 0.037 and P = 0.000, respectively). The count of MVD was significantly different in different iNOS and MMP-9 immunoreactivity groups (F = 17.713 and 17.097, P = 0.000 and P = 0.000, respectively). The examination of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed that there was a significant positive correlation between MVD and iNOS, MMP-9 immunoreactivity (r = 0.754 and 0.751, P = 0.000 and P=0.000, respectively). There was also a significant association between MMP-9 and iNOS expression in HCC (P = 0.010).


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide (NO) produced by iNOS could modulate MMP-9 production and therefore contribute to tumor cell angiogenesis and invasion and metastasis in HCC. The strong expression of iNOS and MMP-9 in HCC may be helpful in evaluating the recurrence of HCC, predicting poor prognosis. For patients with strong expression of MMP-9 and iNOS, the optimal treatment scheme needs to be selected.
Sun
Min-Hua
MH
Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130041, Jilin Province, China.
Han
Xi-Chun
XC
Jia
Ming-Ku
MK
Jiang
Wei-Dong
WD
Wang
Min
M
Zhang
Hong
H
Han
Gang
G
Jiang
Yi
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis
D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9