The expression of HBx in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship with tumor pathological grading

Abstract

Objective We aim to detect the expression of Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate its relationship with tumor pathological grading. Methods Immunohistochemical method was utilized to detect the expression of HBx protein in tumor tissues of fortyone HCC patients,and the result was analyzed with the clinical data. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) ,PCR,and Western blotting were also applied to detect the expression of HBx in tumor tissues and serum of HCC patients. Results The total ratio of HBx positive expression was 27/41 (65. 85%). The poorly differentiated ratios of HBx positive and negative tumor tissues were 11/27 (40. 74%) and 2/14 (14. 29%) respectively, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). And the poorly differentiated ratio of tumor tissues increased with the expression level of HBx, the positive ratio reached 4/6(66. 67%) when HBx was strongly positively expressed. RT-PCR could detect the mRNA of HBx in tumor tissues and the positive ratio was 10/16(62. 50%). Although PCR could detect the HBx copy in the serum of HCC patients,the positive ratio was only 1/7(14. 29%). And Western blotting could efficientlydetect HBx protein in HCC patients' serum,with the highest positive ratio 6/7(85.71%). Conclusion HBx can be detected in both tumor tissues and serum of HCC patients. The expression of HBx is negatively correlated with pathological grading of HCC tumor tissues and the poorly differentiated ratio of tumor tissues increases with the expression level of HBx. Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus X protein; Tumor pathological grading