title: Bmi-1 gene is upregulated in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma and correlates with ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 expression.
abstract: Overexpression of "stemness gene"Bmi-1 has been identified in some solid tumors. We investigated Bmi-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) as a new potential target for Bmi-1. Bmi-1 was highly expressed in HCC cell lines and the most well differentiated cell line, KIM-1, showed the highest expression. Immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, and immunoelectron microscopic analysis showed the Bmi-1 protein as having a high intensity of small dots within the nucleus which reflected concentrated sites of Bmi-1 repressive activity. Clear "dot-pattern" staining was observed in 24 of 37 (65%) well differentiated HCC (including 13 of 21 early nodules [62%]), in 32 of 71 (45%) moderately differentiated HCC, and 7 of 14 (50%) poorly differentiated HCC. A similar expression was not observed in non-cancerous background regions. High Bmi-1 expression was observed in the early and well differentiated HCC. Furthermore, overexpression and suppression of Bmi-1 was followed by a respective increase and decrease in ABCB1 expression. As with Bmi-1, high ABCB1 expression was also observed in the early and well differentiated HCC. A strong correlation between ABCB1 and Bmi-1 mRNA expression was seen in HCC cell lines and clinical samples (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.95 and 0.90, respectively). The Bmi-1 gene is upregulated in HCC, and in particular is highly expressed in early and well differentiated HCC. The fact that this expression correlated with that of ABCB1 suggests a new regulation target for Bmi-1, and gives new insight into early hepatocarcinogenesis mechanisms and potential targets for future HCC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Effendi
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komuta
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masugi
authors.forename: Wenlin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Michiie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C513055:ABCB1 protein, human; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; C069077:BMI1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1