[Expression of Smo protein and the downstream transcription factor Gli1 protein in Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway in gastric carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of Smo protein and the downstream transcription factor Gli1 protein in Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway in gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
A tissue microarray was constructed using 85 gastric carcinoma and 25 normal gastric mucosa specimens. The expression of Smo and Gli1 proteins were detected immunohistochemically and the correlation between their expression in gastric carcinoma was analyzed.


RESULTS
Only weak expression, if any, of Smo and Gli1 proteins was detected in normal gastric mucosa, but in papillary adenocarcinoma, tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, their expressions were significant increased as the differentiation degree was lowered. Smo protein expression in gastric carcinoma was significantly correlated with that of Gli1 protein with correlation coefficient of 0.989 (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal activity of Sonic hedgehog signal transduction pathway may play an important role in the occurrence of papillary adenocarcinoma, tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and this abnormality is associated with Smo protein overexpression, which upregulates the expression of the downstream transcription factor Gli1 protein.
Rong
Zhen-xiang
ZX
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Fang
Chi-hua
CH
Zhu
Da-jian
DJ
Liu
Sheng-jun
SJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
C400551:GLI1 protein, human; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C491023:SMO protein, human; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1