title: Analysis of cellular changes resulting from forced expression of Dickkopf-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is overexpressed in some tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of increased DKK-1 in these tumors is not known. In this study, the DKK-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines was evaluated and the effect of DKK-1 overexpression in HCC cell lines was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of DKK-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines was evaluated by RT-PCR. Stable cell lines that overexpressed DKK-1 were established. Cell growth, adhesion, migration and invasion assays were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR analysis showed that 5 out of 8 HCC cell lines expressed DKK-1. The forced expression of DKK-1 suppressed the growth of cells and increased the population of cells in the sub-G1 phase. In addition, DKK-1 reduced the cellular adhesion capacity to collagen type I and fibronectin, and it increased migratory capacity. However, overexpression of DKK-1 did not increase the invasion capacity of the HCC cell line.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, our data suggest that overexpression of DKK-1 affects the biology of HCC cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kwack
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: In Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sang Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Jin Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Moon Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Sung