Significance Of INOS/NO, HO-1/CO In HCC Relating To Cancer Angiogenesis And Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis

Objective: The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Heme Oxygenaseâ… (HO-1) were investigated in tissues of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order to observe the effect of iNOS/Nitric Oxide(NO)System and HO-1/Carbon Oxide(CO) System on HCC angiogenesis or cell proliferation and apoptosis.Methods: Immunohistochemical S-P method was performed to explore the locations and expressions of iNOS, HO-1, Bcl-2 and Ki-67, CD34 in paraffinembedded samples of 56 HCC and 17 autoplastic normal livers. Semiquantitative score system was used to analyse the results.Results: (1) iNOS expressions in HCC were higher than those in autoplastic normal livers. (2)HO-1 expressions in HCC were higher than those in autoplastic normal livers. (3) PI expressions in HCC were higher than those in autoplastic normal livers. Significant difference was found between PI and HCC grading, and no significant difference was found between PI and HCC tumor size. (4) Bcl-2 expressions in HCC were higher than those in autoplastic normal livers. No significant difference was found between the Bcl-2 expressions and HCC tumor size,HCC grading. (5)Positive correlation between the PI and the expressions of iNOS was found . (6) The expressions of Bcl-2 were positively correlated with the expressions of iNOS and HO-1. (7) The MVD in HCC was higher than that in autoplastic normal tissue livers. Positive correlation between the MVD and the expressions of iNOS was found .(8) The expressions of iNOS were positively correlated with the expressions of HO-1.Conclusion: 1 The over expressions of iNOS/NO System in HCC perhaps play important roles in HCC carcinogenesis.2 The over expressions of iNOS/NO System, HO-1/CO System in HCC perhaps play important roles in HCC proliferation and apoptosis. 3 The abnormal expressions of iNOS/NO System can probably promote the HCC angiogenesis. Maybe the endothelial cells in HCC can be protected by HO-1/CO System. 4 The expressions of HO-1 in HCC can probably be induced by the over expressions of iNOS/NO System.