title: Rab23 is a potential biological target for treating hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China.
authors: Yun-Jian
authors: YJ
authors: Liu
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Xiao-Hui
authors: XH
authors: Huang
authors: Mao-Chuan
authors: MC
authors: Zhen
authors: Shu-Hong
authors: SH
authors: Huang
authors: Lian-Zhou
authors: LZ
authors: Chen
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Xue
authors: Hong-Wei
authors: HW
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C509239:SHH protein, human; C486614:RAB23 protein, human; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins