title: High expression and nuclear localization of β-catenin in diffuse large             B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays diverse roles in embryonic development and maintenance of organs and tissues in adults as well as in the pathogenesis of a range of diseases, including many types of carcinomas. β-catenin, the principal downstream effector of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, migrates to the nucleus and mediates the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and localization of β-catenin in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) tissues and to illuminate the role of β-catenin in the pathogenesis of DLBCL. The mRNA expression levels of β-catenin were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while β-catenin protein levels were detected by western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining. DLBCL showed a higher expression of β-catenin in contrast to reactive hyperplasia of lymph node tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis indicated nuclear localization of β-catenin in 14 (46.67%) DLBCL cases, whereas no inflammatory lymph node tissue showed nuclear accentuation of β-catenin. The overexpression and nuclear accentuation of β-catenin were strongly correlated to the clinical staging of patients with DLBCL (P<0.05). These results suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is partly activated in DLBCL and may contribute to its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xiaoqian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051176:beta Catenin