title: The overexpression of polycomb group proteins Bmi1 and EZH2 is associated with the progression and aggressive biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Polycomb-group proteins Bmi1 and EZH2 are involved in the malignant transformation and biological aggressiveness of several human carcinomas. We herein examined the significance of the Bmi1 and EZH2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its preneoplastic lesions, dysplastic nodules. The expression of Bmi1 and EZH2 were examined immunohistochemically in HCC (n=27) and dysplastic nodules (n=14), and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HC-CC) (n=14). The effect of Bmi1 and EZH2 knockdown was examined in cultured HCC cells (HuH7 and HepG2) using siRNA. It was determined that Bmi1 was constantly expressed in cholangiocytes, but not in hepatocytes, and EZH2 was detected in neither cholangiocytes nor hepatocytes. Bmi1 and EZH2 were overexpressed in HCC and more extensively in HC-CC (P<0.01). Interestingly, Bmi1 and EZH2 were not overexpressed in the dysplastic nodules. The expression of Bmi1 and EZH2 was heterogeneous and associated with vascular infiltration, the histological grades, and the cell proliferation activity in HCC and HC-CC. In cultured carcinoma cells overexpressing Bmi1 and EZH2, knockdown of Bmi1 and EZH2 resulted in decreased cell proliferation activities. Therefore, the overexpression of polycomb-group proteins Bmi1 and EZH2 is associated with the malignant progression of HCC, thereby reflecting the aggressive biological behavior in HCC and HC-CC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itatsu
authors.forename: Junpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minato
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Yasuni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanuma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C069077:BMI1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1