Relationship Between Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Deletion At The P53 Gene Locus As Well As The Expression Of Occludin

Objective To analyze the loss of heterozygosity(LOH) on p53 gene(exon2-3,4 and ll),chromosome 10q22-10q23 and 22qll.2-22ql2.1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in AnHui Province of China, and to investigate the relationship between the expression of occludin and the genesis and development of HCC. Methods PCR-based microsatellite polymorphism analysis technique was used to detect the LOH. The expression and cellular distribution of occludin were detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blotting was used to assess alteration in the levels and localization of occludin in HCCs and corresponding non-tumor liver tissues. The cellular structure of HCC was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Results (DThe rate of LOH at 20 cases was as follows:20% at D10S579(10q22-10q23), 15% at D22S421(22qll.2-22ql2.1), 20% at TP53.A(exon 2-3), 30% at TP53.B(exon 4), and none at TP53.G(exon 11). (2)Immunohistochemistry indicated that occludin was mainly located in the cell-cell junction area. The positive signals of normal liver tissue were stronger than those of tumor tissue. There is statistically significant difference between cancer and normal tissue(P<0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that: (DThe loss of heterozygosity(LOH) on p53 gene, chromosome 10q22-10q23 and 22qll.2-22ql2.1 contribute to the genesis and development of HCC. (2) The D10S579 locus and D22S421 locus may be have unnamed tumor suppressor genes. (3) The expression of occludin significantly decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma with normal tissue. The decreased expression of occludin may play an important role in the genesis and development of HCC.