PIN1 gene overexpression and β-catenin gene mutation/expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and their significance

Summary

The evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a compound process which involves many kinds of genes and transductional pathways. The expression of the peptidyl-proplyl-isomerase PIN1 gene, the mutation in exon 3 of β-catenin and its correspondent abnormal expression and their roles in the hepatocellular carcinogeneisis were investigated. Among 29 pair cases of HCC and non-carcinoma tissues, the expression of PIN1 gene was detected by immunochemical staining. Mutations in exon 3 of β-catenin gene and differential expression of β-catenin gene were investigated by the methods of PCR-SSCP, direct sequencing and immunohistochemical technique as well. The results indicated: (1) 44.8% (13/29) cases of HCC presented higher level of PIN1 gene expression than non-cancerous tissues (x ²=32.63, P<0.05), especially in cytoplasm and nucleus, while there was lower level of PIN1 expression in non-cancerous tissues; (2) 58.6% (17/29) HCC tissues showed β-catenin protein accumulation in cytoplasm and nucleus. 46.2% (6/13) HCC tissues indicated β-catenin protein accumulation with higher level of PIN1 expression, while 53.8% (7/13) HCC tissues indicated β-catenin protein accumulation with lower level or trace of PIN1 expression (x ²=0.00, P>0.05); (3) 24.1% (7/29) of primary tumor lesions carried gene mutations in exon 3 of β-catenin, and accompanied by β-catenin protein accumulation. There was no mutation in non-cancerous tissues. All the mutation presented in tissues with low level of PIN1 expression. There was no mutation of β-catenin gene in tissues with high PIN1 expression level (x ²=58.12, P<0.05). So it was postulated that the increase of PIN1 gene expression could promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis via a way different from β-catenin gene mutation.