Expression of β-and p120-catenins in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: In order to investigate the relationship between catenins and the mechanism of tumorigenesis, development and transference of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: RT - PCR methods was used to detect p 120ctn isoform 1A and 3A mRNA expression in normal hepatic tissues, hepatocirrhosis tissues and hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Also we examined p120ctn protein and β - catenin expression in the tissues mentioned above by immunostaining of the specimens. Results: All the tissues expressed the p120ctn isoform 1A and 3A mRNA. In 2 normal hepatic tissues, the molecules expressed at cell membrane, and they were negative in cytosol; While in 17 hepatocirrhosis tissues, the molecules expressed both at the membrane and in cytosol(in the large scale), and membrane expression were increased. In 17 carcinoma specimens, the molecules expressed maily in cytosol, membrane staining reduced significantly or disappeared, also stained cells were uneven. Conclusions: p120ctn isoform 1A and 3A can be detected in liver tissuses. The molecules can keep and 3A can be detected in liver tissuses. The molecules can keep normal adhesion and signaling of the cell in normal hepatic tissues; While it appeared that in hepatocirrhosis which was pre-cancerized like these, the molecules had translocated and the liver underwent compensation and in the progress to cancer; The molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues had translocalized or relocalized, it suggests may be the cancer cells lost normal adhession and signal transduction function.