The correlation between MT-1 and OY-TES-1 and their clinical significance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

LU Li-si; HUANG Miao; SUN Ke-jian; QIN Shi-xing; WANG Li-wen; FENG Xiang; KUANG Qi-qi; GE Ying-ying; WANG Hong; YAO Jia-li; FU Jun; WU Sheng-ming; HU Qi-ping

doi:10.13820/j.cnki.gdyx.20181734

Abstract：Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of MT-1 and CT23 in hepatoma cells and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, thus to explore the roles of MT-1 and CT23 in the occurrence and development of HCC, and to provide the experimental basis for further study on the mechanism and treatment of HCC. Methods The expression of CT23 and MT-1 in hepatoma cells, HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were assessed by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, gene expression profiling technology, fluorescence-based quantitative PCR, and immunohistochemical staining. T-test was applied for statistical analysis. Results The positive signals of MT-1 and CT23 were mainly located in the cytoplasm, as brownish yellow or brown particles under the light microscope, respectively. MT-1 and CT23 expression were significantly lower in HCC tissues compared with adjacent non-tumorous tissues (P＜0.05). The expression of MT-1 in HCC tissues with lower Edmondson grades and single tumor was significantly higher (P＜0.05). There was no significant correlation between the expression of MT-1 and age, gender, HBsAg, AFP, tumor size, liver cirrhosis, fatty degeneration of the liver, or metastasis (P＞0.05). The expression of MT-1 in the adjacent tissues was not correlated with the clinical data (P＞0.05). The expression of CT23 in HCC tissues or adjacent tissues had no significant correlation with clinical data (P＞0.05). The down-regulation of CT23 in hepatoma cells caused the up-regulation of MT-1 mRNA. There was no significant correlation between the protein expression of MT-1 and CT23 in the HCC tissues and adjacent tissues (P＞0.05). Conclusion MT-1 is closely correlated to the occurrence and development of HCC. The mechanism may be related to the decrease of metal detoxification and free radical accumulation caused by the down-regulation of MT-1 in the liver. After the down-regulation of CT23, the expression of MT-1 increases in the cells. It is suggested that the down-regulation of malignant behavior of hepatoma cells after the down-regulation of CT23 may be achieved through the up-regulation of MT-1 expression, but the correlation and specific mechanism are not yet clear, which needs further study.