The kringle 1 domain of hepatocyte growth factor has antiangiogenic and antitumor cell effects on hepatocellular carcinoma.

The kringle 1 domain of human hepatocyte growth factor (HGFK1) was previously shown to inhibit bovine aortic endothelial cell proliferation, suggesting that it might be an antiangiogenic molecule. Here, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of a recombinant adenoassociated virus carrying HGFK1 (rAAV-HGFK1) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a rat orthotopic HCC model and explored its molecular mechanisms in vitro in both endothelial and tumor cells. We first showed that rAAV-HGFK1 treatment significantly prolonged the survival time of rats transplanted with tumor cells.

Genes encoding Pir51, Beclin 1, RbAp48 and aldolase b are up or down-regulated in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To reveal new tumor markers and target genes from differentially expressed genes of primary tumor samples using cDNA microarray.

Methods: The (33 )P labeled cDNAs were synthesized by reverse transcription of message RNA from the liver cancerous tissue and adjacent non-cancerous liver tissue from the same patient and used to hybridize to LifeGrid 1.0 cDNA microarray blot containing 8400 known and unique human cDNA gene targets, and an expression profile of genes was produced in one paired human liver tumor tissue.

Mutation analysis of novel human liver-related putative tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To find the point mutations meaningful for inactivation of liver-related putative tumor suppressor gene (LPTS) gene, a human novel liver-related putative tumor suppressor gene and telomerase inhibitor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: The entire coding sequence of LPTS gene was examined for mutations by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay and PCR products direct sequencing in 56 liver cancer cell lines, 7 ovarian cancer and 7 head neck tumor cell lines and 70 pairs of HCC tissues samples. The cDNA fragment coding for the most frequent mutant protein was subcloned into GST fusion expression vector.

p73beta inhibits transcriptional activities of enhancer I and X promoter in hepatitis B virus more efficiently than p73alpha.

Aim: p73, as a novel member of a family of p53-related transcription factors, shares redundant functions with p53, such as the abilities of inducing apoptosis and suppressing growth. It is well known that p53 can repress HBV expression and transcription efficiently. The aim of this paper is to investigate the transcriptional effect of p73alpha and p73beta on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to understand the correlation between HBV and p73.

High-level expression and secretion of recombinant mouse endostatin by Escherichia coli.

The expression of murine endostatin was achieved by placing its gene downstream of an alkaline phosphatase gene (phoA) promoter. To ensure proper folding and secretion of the recombinant protein, the mouse endostatin was fused with alkaline phosphatase signal peptide. SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the culture medium of recombinant Escherichia coli cells revealed that endostatin was efficiently secreted.