Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis
08:34

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis

Published on: June 3, 2016

Down-regulation of ATBF1 is a major inactivating mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma

C J Kim1, J H Song, Y G Cho

  • 1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Histopathology
|March 4, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The ATBF1 gene may contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development by reducing its mRNA expression. Genetic or epigenetic changes in the ATBF1 gene were not found to be the cause of HCC in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Cancer Genetics

Background:

  • Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • AT motif binding factor 1 (ATBF1) normally down-regulates AFP and inhibits cell growth.
  • Altered ATBF1 gene expression is linked to malignant transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the ATBF1 gene in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of somatic mutations, allelic loss, and hypermethylation of the ATBF1 gene in 76 HCC samples.
  • Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to measure ATBF1 mRNA expression.

Main Results:

  • No somatic mutations were found in the ATBF1 hotspot region.
  • Allelic loss of ATBF1 was observed in 25% of informative cases.
  • Hypermethylation was detected in only one case.
  • Significantly reduced ATBF1 mRNA expression was found in 72.4% of HCCs compared to surrounding liver tissue.
  • Reduced ATBF1 expression was not associated with clinicopathological parameters.

Conclusions:

  • The ATBF1 gene may contribute to HCC development through transcriptional down-regulation of its mRNA expression.
  • Genetic or epigenetic alterations of the ATBF1 gene are unlikely to be the primary drivers of HCC.

More Related Videos

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration08:14

Hepatocyte-specific Ablation in Zebrafish to Study Biliary-driven Liver Regeneration

Published on: May 20, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Allosteric Proteins-ATCase01:19

Allosteric Proteins-ATCase

Binding sites linkages can regulate a protein's function.  For example, enzyme activity is often regulated through a feedback mechanism where the end product of the biochemical process serves as an inhibitor.
Aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of L-aspartate and carbamoyl phosphate to  N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. This reaction is the first step in pyrimidine biosynthesis. UTP and CTP, the end products of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway,...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...