[Expression and significance of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and significance of HIF1 alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and in hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2.


METHODS
The expression of the HIF1 alpha mRNA and protein were detected with immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot and RT-PCR techniques in HCC, normal liver tissues and HepG2. Their relationship with the pathological characteristics of the HCC was also analyzed.


RESULTS
HIF1 alpha protein was obviously expressed in HCC. The positive rate of HIF1 alpha protein in HCC tissues was 76.4% and was higher than that in normal hepatic tissues. The expression of HIF1 alpha had a correlation to the differentiation degree of HCC tissues and intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases (P<0.05), but there was no correlation to the existence of portal vein tumor emboli, the status of HBsAg and the prognosis (P<0.05). The results of Western blot and RT-PCR were similar to the results of IHC. The positive rate of HIF1 alpha in HepG2 was 93.6%. The levels of HIF1 alpha protein and mRNA began to increase after being treated two hours with hypoxia or with CoCl(2) (150 micromol/L).


CONCLUSIONS
HIF1 alpha protein is obviously expressed in HCC and it is mainly affected by hypoxia. The expression of HIF1 alpha is related to the differentiation of the HCC and its intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases but has no correlation to the existence of portal vein tumor emboli, the status of HBsAg and the prognosis.
Zhang
Fang-jie
FJ
Institute of Liver Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Tang
Wang-xian
WX
Wu
Cui-huan
CH
Yan
Wei
W
Gu
Hua
H
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger