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Telomerase activity and Nm23-H2 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Norio Iizuka1, Naohide Mori, Takuo Tamesa
1Department of Bioregulatory Function, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. iizuka@po.cc.yamaguchi-u.ac.ip
Background:
Telomerase activity is up-regulated in most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Nm23-H2 has been shown to promote the expression of the c-myc gene, a candidate transcriptional activator of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between nm23-H2 expression and telomerase activity in HCCs.
Materials And Methods:
Telomerase activity and nm23-H2 protein expression in 24 HCCs were analyzed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively.
Results:
The incidence of positive telomerase activity was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal liver tissues (18 out of 24 vs. 7 out of 24, p = 0.0015), and nm23 -H2 protein was more abundantly expressed in tumors than in corresponding normal liver tissues. Tumor nm23-H2 immunoreactivity was associated positively with tumor telomerase activity (p = 0.0037).
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that tumor nm23-H2 expression might be associated positively with telomerase activity in HCC and suggest the value of tumor nm23-H2 linked to telomerase activity as a therapeutic target for HCC.