Altered expression in liver cancer with various hepatic blood flow occlusions: A pilot RNA sequencing study

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Previous studies have reported he influence of various hepatic blood flow occlusions on tumor behavior, which is mainly mediated by liver ischemia-reperfusion. Although some genes and pathways have been determined, the whole transcriptome after various hepatic blood flow occlusions is lacking.

We systematically explored transcriptome changes after various hepatic blood flow occlusions, including sham operation (SO; n = 10), occlusion of the portal triad (OPT; n = 10), and occlusion of the portal vein (OPV; n = 10), by RNA-sequencing.

HE sections and TUNEL assays showed different liver injury among groups. We identified the top altered genes and pathways. Compared with the SO group, 96 genes were altered in OPV, with 81 upregulated and 15 downregulated genes. The top 5 upregulated genes were Pdk4, Serpina12, Depp1, Igfbp1, and Mup22. The top 5 downregulated genes were Sprr1a, Serpinb2, Tnc, Cdkn3, and Cenpu. Compared with the SO group, there were 20 differentially expressed genes in OPT, with 18 upregulated and 2 downregulated genes. The top 5 upregulated genes were C7, Zbtb16, Gabrp, Pdk4, and Mmrn1. The top 2 downregulated genes were Krt20 and Sis. Compared with the OPV group, 72 differentially expressed genes were in OPT, with 39 upregulated and 33 downregulated genes. The top 5 upregulated genes were Hspa1b, Hbb-bs, Phf19, Ddias, and Rad54b. The top 5 downregulated genes were Cish, Socs2, Slc25a30, Rgs3, and Hsd3b5.

Various surgical methods have an obvious influence on the transcriptome of tumors.