title: Roles of EGFR-Stat3 signal pathway in carcinogenesis of experimental hepatoma in rats.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate if the EGFR-Stat3 signal pathway contributes to the carcinogenesis of hepatoma in rats. Hepatoma was induced in rats by 3'Me-DAB as a model. EGFR, TGFalpha, Stat3, p-Stat3 in different stages of carcinogenesis were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In situ hybridization was applied to investigate the expression of Stat3 mRNA. The expressions of signal molecules were assessed by KS400 Image Analysis system. The data were statistically evaluated. EGFR, TGFalpha, Stat3 were highly expressed in the stages of liver necrosis and repairment. All hepatocellular carcinoma cases revealed elevated expression of EGFR, TGFalpha. Elevation of Stat3 mRNA and protein levels were identified, increase of activation of Stat3 was also observed. In HCC, there was positive correlation between p-Stat3 level and the expression of TGFalpha and PCNA. Increased expression of Bcl-2 (P < 0.05) coincided with elevated level of p-Stat3. Therefore, the EGFR-Stat3 signal pathway was related to the development of hepatoma in rats. TGFalpha-EGFR autocrine ring formation may lead to the activation of Stat3 and in turn, promote proliferation and regulate the transcription of genes regulating cell apoptosis and cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Xiao Tang
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shi Neng
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zu De
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xi Qi
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Teng Fang
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jie Qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shi Lun
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C034071:3'-methyl-4-methylaminoazobenzene; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene; D066246:ErbB Receptors