[Study on the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and L02 cell line].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible mechanism of action of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis by investigating the different expressions of the main members on this signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and L02 cell line.


METHODS
The mRNAs of Wnt1, Wnt4, beta-catenin, cyclinD1 and c-myc genes were amplified by means of semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in normal liver cell line L02 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, respectively. At the same time, the proteins expression of beta-catenin which was the key member in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was examined by immunocytochemical method and Western blot technique.


RESULTS
In normal liver cell line L02, the mRNAs of Wnt1, Wnt4, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were not detected except for the gene of beta-catenin. In hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, the mRNAs of Wnt1, beta-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were detected except for the gene of Wnt4. Meanwhile, found that beta-catenin proteins were accumulated in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus in HepG2 but only in cell membrane in L02.Using Western blot technique, found that beta-catenin proteins expression was higher in HepG2 than in L02.


CONCLUSIONS
The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway is activated with aberrant expression of Wnt1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.
Wang
Qi-Ming
QM
Department of Anatomy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. wangqiming-6@163.com
Jia
Lian-Qun
LQ
Zhou
Hong-Ying
HY
Li
Yun-Sheng
YS
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin