[Expressions of h-TERT, c-myc, PCNA and cell apoptosis in liver carcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-TERT), c-myc, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and understand their possible role in liver carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Totally 157 liver disease specimens were collected, including 56 CVH, 52 liver cirrhosis and 49 primary HCC specimens. In situ hybridization was performed on these specimens to examine the expressions of h-TRET and c-myc mRNA, and immunohistochemistry carried out for PCNA detection, with the cell apoptosis detected with in situ ending labeling.


RESULTS
In the CVH, liver cirrhosis and primary HCC specimens, h-TERT expression was detected at the frequencies of 11/56 (19.6%), 43/52 (82.7%) and 44/47 (93.6%), c-myc expression at 7/56 (12.5%), 21/52 (40.4%) and 26/47 (55.3%), with apoptotic index of (27.3-/+4.7)%, (16.5-/+2.6)% and (8.7-/+1.3)% and PCNA expression rate of (17.1-/+2.9)%, (49.3-/+7.8)% and (62.5-/+9.1)%, respectively. Correlations among h-TERT, c-myc, and PCNA expressions and the apoptotic index were not found in the examined tissues (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Liver carcinogenesis may involve increased h-TERT, c-myc, and PCNA expressions and suppressed cell apoptosis.
Fu
Xiao-mei
XM
Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Peoples' Hospital of Huizhou City, Huizhou 516001, China.
Yang
Qing-xu
QX
Shao
Chun-kui
CK
Feng
Zhi-ying
ZY
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase