Expression Of Survivin And Caspase-3 And Their Relationship With Apoptosis In Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expressions of Survivin and Caspase-3 and their relationship with the clinicopathologic character and the apoptosis in primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The expressions of Survivin and Caspase-3 mRNA were detected by using RT-PCR in 30 cases of HCC tissue, 30 cases of para-carcinoma tissue, and 6 cases of normal liver tissue. The Survivin and Caspase-3 protein expression was detected by using immunohistochemistry. TUNEL was used to detect the cell apoptosis in HCC tissue.Results1. Survivin mRNA was detected in 22 out of 30 cases of HCC tissue (73.3%) and 4 out of 30 cases of para-carcinoma tissue (13.3%) and none of the normal liver tissue. The overall average was 0.62+0.16 in HCC tissue and 0.22+0.09 in para-carcinoma tissue, and the expression of Survivin mRNA had significant difference between HCC tissue and non-carcinoma tissue (P<0.01). Survivin protein was detected in 19 out of 30 cases of HCC tissue (63.3%)while the para-carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue were completely negative for Survivin protein expression, and there was significant difference between HCC tissue and non-carcinoma tissue (P<0.01).2. Caspase-3 mRNA was detected in 16 out of 30 cases of HCC tissue (53.3%), 26 out of 30 cases of para-carcinoma tissue (86.7%) and 5 out of 6 cases of normalliver tissue (83.3%); the overall average was 0.49±0.16,0.68+0.24, and 0.71+0.16, respectively. Expression of Caspase-3 mRNA in HCC tissue was significantly lower than that in non-carcinoma tissue (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between para-carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue (P>0.05). Caspase-3 protein was detected in 14 out of 30 cases of HCC tissue (46.7%), 24 out of 30 cases of para-carcinoma tissue (80.0%) , and 5 out of 6 cases of normal liver tissue (83.3%). Expression of Caspase-3 protein in HCC tissue was significantly lower than that in non-carcinoma tissue (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between para-carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue (P>0.05).3. The expressions of Survivin mRNA and protein were correlated with HCC differentiation, and poorly differentiated HCC tissue had higher Survivin expression (P<0.05). No correlation was found between Survivin expression and age, sex, size of tumor, clinical stage, serum AFP, Child grading of liver function, or HBV infection.4. The expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein were correlated with HCC differentiation, and poorly differentiated HCC tissue had lower Caspase-3 expression(P<0.05). No correlation was found between Caspase-3 expression and age, sex, size of tumor, clinical stage, serum AFP, Child grading of liver function, or HBV infection.5. The apoptotic index (AI) was 0.3%~14.6% and the overall average was (5.16+3.86) %. The average AI was (5.06+3.79) % in Survivin protein-positivecases and (5.34+4.17) % in negative cases. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The average AI was (5.65+4.44) % in Caspase-3 protein-positive cases and (4.73 + 3. 37) % in negative cases. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05).6. The expression of Survivin protein was negatively correlated with that of Caspase-3 protein (P<0.05).Conclusions1. Survivin gene is highly expressed in HCC tissue and no expression was found in para-carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue; Caspase-3 gene expression in HCC tissue is significantly lower than that in para-carcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue.The overexpression of Survivin and the low expression of caspase-3 in HCC tissue may play an important role in the oncogenesis and development of HCC.2. The expressions of Survivin and Caspase-3 are correlated with HCC differentiation. Survivin expression is higher and Caspase-3 expression is lower in poorly differentiated HCC tissue. Detecting the expressions of Survivin and Caspase-3 may be used to estimate the degree of malignance and prognosis.3. The expressions of Survivin and Caspase-3 are not correlated with AI in HCC tissue. The cell apoptosis may be mainly regulated by other genes but not Survivin and Caspase-3 in HCC.4. The expression of Survivin is negatively correlated with that of Caspase-3. Detecting that Survivin can directly or indirectly restrain the expression of Caspase-3 and accelerate the oncogenesis, development and malignant hyperplasia of HCC.