Rab23 is a potential biological target for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the role of Rab23 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by assessing the expression of Rab23 in HCC tissue and in HCC cell lines.


METHODS
Primary tumors (n = 100) were stained with Rab23 antibodies using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in tissue microarrays. Relationships between gene expression and pathology parameters were analysed. The biological significance of Rab23 in Hep-3B cells was examined by knocking down Rab23 gene expression. We designed a pair of double-stranded RNAs against human rab23 and transfected siRNA into Hep-3B cells. Rab23 expression in these cells was examined using RT-PCR and Western blots. We investigated cell growth by MTT assays and fluorescence-activated cell sorting.


RESULTS
High cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of Rab23 was found in 38 of 71 (53.5%) and in 49 of 68 HCC patients (72%) respectively, which correlated with tumor size. HCC cell lines expressed Rab23. In Hep3B cells, siRNA for Rab23 decreased Rab23 mRNA by 4.5-fold and protein expression by 2-fold. Survival rates at 24 and 48 h for Hep-3B cells transfected with siRNA were lower and about 30% Hep-3B cells were apoptotic. Knocking down rab23 suppressed Hep3B cell growth, suggesting that rab23 could play an important role in Hep3B cell growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Rab23 is overexpressed and/or activated in HCC. Rab23 may be both a HCC predictor and a target for treating HCC.
Liu
Yun-Jian
YJ
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China.
Wang
Qian
Q
Li
Wen
W
Huang
Xiao-Hui
XH
Zhen
Mao-Chuan
MC
Huang
Shu-Hong
SH
Chen
Lian-Zhou
LZ
Xue
Ling
L
Zhang
Hong-Wei
HW
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C509239:SHH protein, human; C486614:RAB23 protein, human; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins