title: Differential association of STAT3 and HK-II expression in hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: STAT3 and hexokinase II (HK-II) are involved in viral infection and carcinogenesis of various cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The roles of STAT3 and HK-II in hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC remain largely unclear. This study examined STAT3 and HK-II expression in HBV- and HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and normal control liver by using tissue microarray and immunohistochemical method. Results showed that STAT3 expression in HBV-related HCC, HCV-related HCC, and HBV-related liver fibrosis was significantly higher than in control liver (P < 0.001, P = 0.016, and P = 0.005, respectively) and had no significant differences between these three diseased liver tissues. The HK-II expression in HBV-related HCC was significantly higher than that in HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and control liver (P = 0.007, P = 0.029, and P = 0.008, respectively) but had no significant elevation in and no significant differences between HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and control liver. The HK-II expression was significantly correlated to STAT3 expression in HBV-related HCC (P = 0.022), but no correlation was observed in HCV-related HCC, HBV-related liver fibrosis, and control liver. In conclusion, STAT3 expression is upregulated in both HBV- and HCV-related HCC, while HK-II is predominantly upregulated and correlated to STAT3 in HBV-related HCC. These differential expression and association may suggest the distinct roles of STAT3 and HK-II in hepatocarcinogenesis of HBV and HCV infection. Studies are needed to confirm the relationship of STAT3 and HK-II and to examine the underlying mechanisms. J. Med. Virol. 88:1552-1559, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.|Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacogenomics, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tieying
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qunying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D006593:Hexokinase
keywords: hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; hexokinase II; signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)