[Expression of NET-1 gene and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma and related tissues].
OBJECTIVE
NET-1 is a new tumor-related gene. So far, its expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) hasn't been reported. This study was to screen and compare the expression of NET-1 among fetal liver tissue, adult normal liver tissue, HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues; explore its expression feature in HCC.


METHODS
The expression of NET-1 mRNA in 3 specimens of fetal liver tissue, 4 specimens of adult liver tissue, 4 specimens of test HCC tissue, and 28 specimens of HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression level of NET-1 gene was analyzed by Four-Star image analysis software. NET-1 gene polyclonal antibody was generated by gene biological engineering, and its expression in human hepatic cancer cell line SMMC-7721 was observed under laser confocal microscope. The expression of NET-1 protein in the 28 specimens of HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
NET-1 mRNA was expressed in all of the 4 specimens of test HCC tissue, but didn't express in normal adult and fetal liver tissues; the positive rates of NET-1 mRNA were 85.71% (24/28) in both HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues. The mRNA level of NET-1 was significantly higher in HCC than in adjacent noncancerous tissues (0.65 vs. 0.47, P<0.05). Observed under confocal microscope, NET-1 antibody was expressed in cytoplasm of SMMC-7721 cells. The positive rate of NET-1 protein was significantly higher in HCC than in adjacent noncancerous tissues (96.43% vs. 71.43%, P<0.05). In both HCC and adjacent noncancerous tissues, the positive rate of NET-1 mRNA was positively correlated to that of NET-1 protein (r=0.48, P<0.05; r=0.40, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
NET-1 gene expression might be an early event in HCC development, and may have specific value in HCC diagnosis.
Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P. R. China.
Li
L
Chen
Ai-Guo
AG
Shen
Gui-Lan
GL
Wang
Peng
P
Lu
Xing-Yu
XY
Li
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
C099763:NET1 protein, human; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger