Tissue expression of β-catenin and E- and N-cadherins in chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: The role of Wnt/ β -catenin signaling pathway in HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinogenesis is still unknown.

Material And Methods: This study aimed to perform quantitative analysis of immuno- and hybridocytochemical expression of β -catenin, E- and N-cadherins and HCV proteins (C, NS3, NS5A) in long-lasting (≥ 20 years) chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) ( = 54), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ( = 61), and control liver samples ( = 8).

Results: Typical membranous expression of β -catenin in the control liver was higher than in the CH-C and HCC ( = 0.06). The mean β -catenin tissue expression in CH-C was similar to controls, and significantly higher than that of HCC ( = 0.005). E-cadherin expression was lower in CH-C than in the control ( = 0.045) and HCC ( < 0.001). In HCC both β -catenin and E-cadherin expressions were significantly lower in comparison to controls ( = 0.02, = 0.001, respectively). Positive correlations were found between β -catenin and E-cadherin (in CH-C and HCC), β -catenin and N-cadherin (HCC), E- and N-cadherins expressions (HCC) ( < 0.05 in all cases). In CH-C the positive correlation was demonstrated between NS5A protein and β -catenin, and between the all HCV proteins (C, NS3, NS5A) and E-cadherin expression ( < 0.05 in all cases).

Conclusions: Alterations in cellular locations of β -catenin and E-cadherin in CH-C and HCC pointed to structural disturbances in intercellular junctions in the livers and presence of the transcriptionally inactive form of β -catenin. The reduced expression of E-cadherin in long-lasting CH-C may represent an early indicator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The most important role in modulation of the Wnt/ β -catenin pathway is probably played by the NS5A viral protein.