Expression of nuclear factor-kappa B in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relation with the X protein of hepatitis B virus

AIM In this study we investigated the relationship of the X protein of HBV and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and the expression of NF-kappaB in hu man hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. METHODS Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expression of NF-kappaB and the X protein of HBV in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissu es of 52 cases. Gene transfection mediated by lipofectamine was used to tra nsfect the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3. 1-HBX of HBV x gene into hu man hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCC-9204 and NF-kappaB was detected. RESULTS NF-kappaB was widely expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma ti ssues in a total of 52 cases and its expression was related to the X protei n of HBV. NF-kappaB was localized both in the cytoplasm and the nuclei of h epatocellular carcinoma cells in 11 cases which were positive for the X pro tein of HBV while in 41 cases negative for the X protein of HBV, NF-kappaB was only localized in the cytoplasm of hepatocellular carcinoma cells but t ranslocated to the nuclei of hepatocellular carcinoma cells after the eukar yotic expression vector pCDNA3. 1-HBX was transfected into HCC-9204 cells. CONCLUSION This study strongly suggests that the nuclear factor NF-kappaB i s widely expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues in different styles according to the expression of the X protein of HBV. NF-kappaB is abnormall y activated in hepatocellular carcinoma, which is probably related to the X protein of HBV. The X protein of HBV can activate NF-kappaB to translocate into nuclei of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.