Expression of gap junction protein connexin 26 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its significance
10.3785/j.issn.1008-9292.2015.09.08
- VernacularTitle:缝隙连接蛋白26在肝细胞癌组织的表达及意义
- Author:
Yan YANG
1
;
Yu-Mei LI
;
Na ZHANG
;
Wan-Yun LI
;
Yu-Rong OU
;
Rui WANG
;
Fu-You ZHAO
;
Qiong WU
Author Information
1. 蚌埠医学院第一附属医院肿瘤内科
- Keywords:
Carcinoma,hepatocellular/pathology;
Connexins/genetics;
Gap junctions/physiology;
Immunohistochemistry;
Gene expression
- From:
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences
2015;(5):517-524
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the expression of gap junction protein connexin 26 ( Cx26 ) in hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) and its significance .Methods: The expression of Cx26 in liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry staining in 159 paraffin-embeded liver sections , including 20 samples of normal liver tissue , 30 samples of chronic hepatitis , 33 samples of liver cirrhosis , and 76 samples of HCC . Normal hepatic cell line LO2 and HCC cell line SMMC-7721 were used in vitro to verify the characteristics of gap junction and Cx 26 expression pattern .The expression and localization of Cx26 were measured by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay , respectively .The function of gap junction between adjacent cells was detected by dye transfer assay .Results: Compared to normal liver samples , the positive rate of Cx 26 was markedly decreased in hepatitis , cirrhosis and HCC tissues ( all P<0 .05 ) .The intensity of Cx26 staining was significantly increased in HCC tissues compared with those in non-carcinomatous liver (NCL) tissues (all P<0.05).In NCL tissues, there was a mild to moderated staining of Cx 26 which located mainly on the membranes of hepatocytes at intercellular contacts .The positive staining of Cx 26 in HCC tissues was observed mainly in cytoplasm .Positive Cx26 expression was positively associated with tumor size (P=0.036), but not with age, gender, histologic grade, clinical stage, underlying hepatitis and cirhosis , lymph node metastasis and intrahepatic vascular embolism ( all P>0.05 ).Compared with LO2 cells, an aberrant expression and distribution of Cx26 in SMMC-7721 cells was confirmed , which may lead to a decreased function of gap junctions .Conclusions: The aberrant expression and distribution of Cx26 protein may be associated with hepatocarcinogenesis , and the residual gap junction in HCC may provide a new target for treatment of HCC .
