[Expression of centromere protein A in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of centromere protein A (CENP-A) and its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissue.


METHODS
The expression levels of CENP-A mRNA in 20 samples of HCC and adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissue were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Immunohistochemical study for CENP-A and p53 proteins was also performed on tissue microarrays containing 80 samples of HCC and adjacent liver tissue.


RESULTS
The expression level of CENP-A mRNA in HCC (0.64 +/- 0.18) was higher than that in adjacent non-neoplastic liver tissue (0.09 +/- 0.09) (t = 12.78, P < 0.01). Of the 80 samples of HCC, 57 cases (71.25%) and 60 cases (75%) expressed CENP-A and p53 proteins respectively. The positivity rates of CENP-A and p53 proteins in non-neoplastic liver tissue were 43.75% (35/80) and 16.25% (13/80) respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in CENP-A and p53 protein expression between HCC and non-neoplastic liver tissue (P < 0.01). The coincident rate between CENP-A and p53 expression was 88.75% (71/80). Expression of CENP-A protein showed a positive correlation with that of p53 protein (r = 0.57, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The over-expression of CENP-A occurs at transcriptional level and may be related to malignant proliferation of HCC via possible interaction with p53 gene.
Li
Yong-mei
YM
Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Liu
Xiao-hong
XH
Cao
Xiao-zhe
XZ
Wang
Li
L
Zhu
Ming-hua
MH
D001324:Autoantigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53