The Clinical Significance Of Expression Of Livin In Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

ObjectiveLivin is a new member of inhibitor of the apoptosis protein family, it acts through inhibiting Caspase activity, activating TAK1/JNK signal pathway and resisting chemotherapy to inhibit apoptosis of tumors. Livin is seldom expressed in normal terminal tissue, but highly expressing in neoplastic tissue. So Livin is wished to be a potential therapy target in cancer. To explore clinical significance of the expressions of Livin mRNA and protein in non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL).Methods1.Study To sellect 30 patients diagnosed with NHL from January 2005 to June 2009 in Department of Pathology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University. The number of male patients and female ones are respectively 13 and 17 in this group,aged from 28 to 75 years old, with a median age of 56 years old. According to Ann Arbor Standard, there are 3 patients in StageⅠ,9 in Stage II,13 in Stage III and 5 in StageⅣ. To collect 20 lymph nodes of NHL patients,10 reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes and 4 normal lymph nodes from Surgical procedures, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University. The number of male patients and female ones are respectively 7 and 13 in this group, with a median age of 52 years old.2.Method The expressions of Livin mRNA and protein were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry study. The relationships between the expressions of mRNA and protein for Livin and clinical features of NHL were analyzed.3.Statistics All data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS 16.0.Dates of PCR used median and percentages. To compare the expression of Livin mRNA used Mann-Whitney U test. Dates of immunohistochemistry used x2 test and Fisher exact test. Two parameters used the Spearman rank correlation test. To consider P<0.05 as statistically significant.Results1.Expressions of Livin mRNAExpressions of Livin mRNA was statistically higher in NHL samples than in normal lymph nodes and reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes (P=0.008 and 0.001)by real-time quantitative PCR method,while there was no statistic difference between normal lymph nodes and reactive hyperplasia of lymph node (P>0.05).2.The relationship between expressions of Livin mRNA and clinical features.The expressions of Livin mRNA was positively correlated to clinical stages of NHL(P=0.023),B symptoms (P=0.015), bloodβ2-microglobulin(β2-MG,P =0.031)and the serum level of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH,P=0.037).But the expressions of Livin mRNA had no significant correlation to age, sex and typing.3.Expressions of Livin ProteinLivin protein was exhibited in 16 of 30cases of NHLs with a positive rate of 53.3% and only 1 in reactive hyperplasia lymph nodes with a positive rate of 9.1%.In addition,Livin protein almost appeared in the cytoplasm of cells,seldom in nucleus.4. The relationship between expressions of Livin protein and clinical features.The expressions of Livin protein was positively correlated to clinical stages of NHL(P=0.009),B symptoms (P=0.026), bloodβ2-microglobulin(p2-MQ P=0.012) and the serum level of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH, P=0.007).But the expressions of Livin protein had no significant correlation to age, sex and typing.ConclusionAs the high expressions of Livin mRNA and protein were correlated to many clinical features, we could indicate that Livin might play a role in predicting the prognosis of NHL patients. In conclusion,our study suggested further investigation for inhibition of Livin expression might be crucial for pathogenesis,treatment and prognosis of NHL.