[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.
Chen
Li
L
Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P. R. China.
Shen
Ai-Guo
AG
Wang
Gui-Lan
GL
Lu
Peng
P
Li
Xing-Yu
XY
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