Korean J Pathol.  2001 Apr;35(2):129-136.

A Study on the Expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen and Apoptosis of the Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Human and Hepatitis B Virus X Transgenic Mice

• Moon HB
• Yu DY
• Yoo HR
• So BJ
• Chae KM
• Kim HC
• Yun KJ
• Han WC
• Jo HJ
• Kim BY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This experiment was designed to study the cell kinetics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both hepatitis B virus X (HBx) transgenic mice and humans.
METHODS
The immunohistochemical stain of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay of apoptosis were used on formalin fixed-paraffin embedded tissues.
RESULTS
PCNA labeling indices (PCNA-LI) in the liver of HBx transgenic mice were markedly increased in HCC (11.3%) compare to the dysplastic areas (1.3%) and in the liver of non-transgenic littermates (0.1%). There was no significant difference of PCNA-LI in the dysplastic areas between HCC developed mice and non-HCC developed mice. Apoptosis labeling indices (Apoptosis-LI) in both the dysplastic areas and HCC of HBx transgenic mice were similar to those of non-transgenic littermates. PCNA-LI was markedly increased in human HCC (28.9%) compare to the background of HCC (2.9%) and the control liver (2.9%). Apoptosis-LI was decreased in human HCC (0.3%) compare to the background of HCC (0.4%) and the control liver (1.0%). Conclusion : There is a marked increase of cell proliferating activity in human HCC and in HCC of HBx transgenic mice, and there is a decrease of apoptosis in human HCC, but not in HCC of HBx transgenic mice.

Keyword

Transgenic; Hepatocellular; Carcinoma; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Apoptosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apoptosis*
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Formaldehyde
Hepatitis B virus*
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Humans*
Kinetics
Liver
Mice
Mice, Transgenic*
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*
Formaldehyde
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen