Dong Li-hua, Li Hua, Wang Fan, Li Fu-qiang, Zhou Hong-ying, Yang Hui-jun
Department of Anatomy, School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2007 Mar;27(3):318-21.
To detect the expression of liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its adjacent liver tissues, and investigate the correlation between the expressions of L-FABP and VEGF and their role in the occurrence and progression of HCC.
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were employed to examine the expression of L-FABP and VEGF in HCC and its adjacent liver tissues obtained from the surgical specimens of 61 HCC patients who underwent liver resections in West China hospital.
The results of RT-PCR showed that the expression level of L-FABP and VEGF in HCC was significantly higher than that in its adjacent liver tissues (L-FABP: 0.97-/+0.12, 0.83-/+0.14, t=5.21, P<0.05; VEGF: 0.92-/+0.11, 0.59-/+0.15, t=11.79, P<0.05). L-FABP tended to co-express with VEGF (P<0.05). IHC staining revealed that the expression of L-FABP and VEGF was mainly located in the cytoplasm, and the gray scale of L-FABP expression was significantly higher than that in the adjacent liver tissues (92.73-/+7.67, 82.83-/+6.90, t=7.44, P<0.05). The number of L-FABP- and VEGF-positive cells in HCC was significantly lower than that in the adjacent liver tissues (L-FABP: 92.18-/+4.44, 84.52-/+6.43, t=5.94, P<0.05; VEGF: 88.69-/+5.56, 77.64-/+5.93, t=8.72, P<0.05). Co-expression of L-FABP and VEGF observed in RT-PCR and also in IHC (P<0.05).
Both L-FABP and VEGF expressions are up-regulated in HCC. L-FABP gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis of human HCC. Expression of L-FABP is associated with VEGF expression, suggesting that L-FABP promotes the growth of blood vessels by taking up the fatty acids from the bloodstream, and both of them produce a marked effect on energy metabolism in HCC.
检测肝型脂肪酸结合蛋白（L-FABP）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在人肝细胞癌（HCC）及其癌旁肝组织中的表达，探讨L-FABP与VEGF表达的相关性及其在HCC发生发展中的作用。
采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫组织化学（IHC）染色法检测61例在华西医院接受肝切除术的HCC患者手术标本中HCC及其癌旁肝组织中L-FABP和VEGF的表达。
RT-PCR结果显示，HCC中L-FABP和VEGF的表达水平显著高于其癌旁肝组织（L-FABP：0.97±0.12，0.83±0.14，t = 5.21，P < 0.05；VEGF：0.92±0.11，0.59±0.15，t = 11.79，P < 0.05）。L-FABP倾向于与VEGF共表达（P < 0.05）。IHC染色显示，L-FABP和VEGF的表达主要位于细胞质中，L-FABP表达的灰度显著高于癌旁肝组织（92.73±7.67，82.83±6.90，t = 7.44，P < 0.05）。HCC中L-FABP和VEGF阳性细胞数显著低于癌旁肝组织（L-FABP：92.18±4.44，84.52±6.43，t = 5.94，P < 0.05；VEGF：88.69±5.56，77.64±5.93，t = 8.72，P < 0.05）。在RT-PCR和IHC中均观察到L-FABP与VEGF共表达（P < 0.05）。
HCC中L-FABP和VEGF的表达均上调。L-FABP基因可能参与人HCC的致癌过程。L-FABP的表达与VEGF表达相关，提示L-FABP通过摄取血液中的脂肪酸促进血管生长，二者均对HCC的能量代谢产生显著影响。
