title: Expression of β-catenin protein in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship with alpha-fetoprotein.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the expression of β-catenin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its relationship with α-fetoprotein (AFP) in HCC. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of β-catenin in normal liver tissues (n=10), liver cirrhosis tissues (n=20), and primary HCC tissues (n=60). The relationship between β-catenin expression and clinical parameters of HCC was investigated. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of β-catenin in the liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 transfected with a plasmid encoding AFP, and also the mRNA and protein expression levels of β-catenin were measured in the liver cancer cell line Huh7 before and after the transfection with AFP shRNA plasmids. The results showed that β-catenin was only expressed on the cell membrane in normal liver tissues. Its localization to the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells was observed in a small proportion of cirrhotic tissues or adjacent HCC tissues, and such ectopic expression of β-catenin was predominant in HCC tissues. The abnormal expression of β-catenin was correlated with serum AFP levels, cancer cell differentiation and vascular invasion (P<0.05). Additionally, the increased expression of AFP resulted in the upregulation of β-catenin mRNA and protein levels, while knockdown of AFP with AFP shRNA led to significantly decreased β-catenin mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). It was suggested that the abnormal expression of β-catenin is implicated in hepatic carcinogenesis and development. AFP can lead to increased expression of β-catenin, which may account for the poor prognosis of AFP-associated HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430064, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Lu
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Center Hospital of Huanggang, Huanggang, 438099, China.
authors.forename: Qian-Jin
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China. xiongzhifan@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Fan
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China. 2750907244@qq.com.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C097353:AFP protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; α-fetoprotein; β-catenin