Wnt Signaling Pathway Related Genes In AFB1-Induced Rat Hepatocarcinogenesis And Human Hepatocarcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer, and the third leading cause of cancer death. It also accounts for nearly 1 million deaths every year. About 18.8% of total fatalities caused by malignant tumor are HCC in China and HCC is the most common cancer in Guangxi province.However, the molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis are remaining largely unknown. Currently, the research of HCC is concentrated on related gene cloning, cellular signal transformation pathway and regulation of cell cycle. Wnt signaling pathway is hotspot to study recently. Many evidences indicate that Wnt signaling pathway may play a key role in the hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the exact mechanism of Wnt signaling pathway in hepatocarcinogene -sis is still uncertain.Therefore, to further understand the Wnt signaling pathway in the heptocarcinogensis, we investigated the alterations of Wnt sigaling pathway related genes including β -Catenin, GSK-3 β , C-myc and Cyclin Dl, and analyzed the mutation of CTTNBl in rat liver tissue during the experimental hepatocarcinogenesis.In this study, among the total of 80 male SD rats, 66 rats were exposed to AFB1 by intraperitoneally injection for 32 weeks (W). Whereas, 14 rats were not exposed for AFB 1 and served as control. All of animals were biopsied liver at 12,20, 36, 46 and 58^th W. All survivals were sacrificed at 58^thW. ALT levels in blood were determined at the same time.Gene mutations were analyzed by direct sequencing PCR products and the protein and mRNA expressions of genes were determined by western blot, immunohistochemistry or RT-PCR in animal and human specimens.