Korean J Hepatol > Volume 6(1); 2000 > Article
The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2000;6(1): 33-40.
원저 : 간세포암과 만성 바이러스성 간염 환자의 간 조직 내의 Transforming Growth Factor Alpha mRNA 의 발현 ( Expression of Transforming Growth Factor Alpha mRNA in Livers of Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma )
Expression of Transforming Growth Factor Alpha mRNA in Livers of Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Young-Hwa Chung, M.D. Jung A Kim, M.S., Byung-Cheol Song, M.D., Geun Chan Lee, M.D., Moon Soo Koh, M.D., Yung Sang Lee, M.D., Seung Gyu Lee, M.D.,* Dong Jin Suh, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine and General Surgery University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
ABSTRACT
Background/Aims
: Transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) is an important autocrine growth factor of hepatocytes. We were to evaluate the roles of TGF α in chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Me thods : We measured the amounts of TGFα mRNA in liver tissues from 18 patients with HCC, 31 with CVH and 7 normal controls. ‘Hot start’ reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT - PCR) us ing oligo- dT and specific primers detected TGFα mRNA in total cellular RNA extracted from liver tissues. T he levels of TGFα mRNA were determined by the end point titers of serial two- fold dilutions of cDNA. T he amounts of HBV- RNA in livers of patients with chronic hepatitis B were also measured by Northern blot hybridization. Re s ults : TGFα mRNA levels were significantly higher in HCC than CVH and normal controls ; those of CVH were also elevated compared to normal controls . They were overexpressed in the nontumorous livers surrounding HCC compared to CVH, although lower than HCC tissues. T hey were higher in chronic hepatitis B than in chronic hepatitis C. T hey were not correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT ) or HBV- RNA levels in liver tissues (in cases of chronic hepatitis B). However, the expression of TGFα mRNA tended to be higher in the livers of patients with serum AFP levels raised. Conclus ion: Overexpress ion of TGFα mRNA in liver seems to be associated with the regeneration of hepatocytes rather than hepatic necrosis or viral replication. Also, it may be closely related to the development or growth of HCC, especially in the livers of chronic hepatitis B.
KeyWords: Neoplasm/ Liver / Hepatocellular carcinoma, Chronic hepatitis/Viral, Transforming growth factor alpha.

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