title: Cell Pleomorphism and Cytoskeleton Disorganization in Human Liver Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nucleoskeleton maintains the framework of a cell nucleus that is required for a variety of nuclear functions. However, the nature of nucleoskeleton structure has not been yet clearly elucidated due to microscopy visualization limitations. Plectin, a nuclear pore-permeable component of cytoskeleton, exhibits a role of cross-linking between cytoplasmic intermediate filaments and nuclear lamins. Presumably, plectin is also a part of nucleoskeleton. Previously, we demonstrated that pleomorphism of hepatoma cells is the consequence of cytoskeletal changes mediated by plectin deficiency. In this study, we applied a variety of technologies to detect the cytoskeletons in liver cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The images of confocal microscopy did not show the existence of plectin, intermediate filaments, microfilaments and microtubules in hepatic nuclei. However, in the isolated nuclear preparation, immunohistochemical staining revealed positive results for plectin and cytoskeletal proteins that may contribute to the contamination derived from cytoplasmic residues. Therefore, confocal microscopy provides a simple and effective technology to observe the framework of nucleoskeleton. Accordingly, we verified that cytoskeletons are not found in hepatic cell nuclei. Furthermore, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of plectin in liver cells leads to collapsed cytoskeleton, cell transformation and pleomorphic nuclei.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plectin and cytoskeletons were not detected in the nuclei of liver cells compared to the results of confocal microscopy. Despite the absence of nuclear plectin and cytoskeletal filaments, the evidence provided support that nuclear pleomorphism of cancer cells is correlated with the cytoplasmic disorganization of cytoskeleton.
authors: Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan, R.O.C. Center for General Education, Providence University, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Chiung-Chi
authors: CC
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yen-Chang Clark
authors: YC
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yih-Shyong
authors: YS
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Wei-Ting
authors: WT
authors: Chao
authors: Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yu-Hui
authors: YH
authors: Tseng
authors: Department of Pathology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yung-Hsiang
authors: YH
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: You-Yin
authors: YY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pathology, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lukang, Taiwan, R.O.C. Department of Pathology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, R.O.C. ysliu53@gmail.com.
authors: Yi-Hsiang
authors: YH
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008870:Microtubules / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D051190:Plectin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051190:Plectin; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: Cytoskeleton; hepatocellular carcinoma; nucleoskeleton; plectin; pleomorphism