Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2005; 11(21): 3297-3299
Published online Jun 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i21.3297
Pivotal molecules of MHC I pathway in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Wei Chen, Mei-Ying Cai, Da-Peng Wei, Xia Wang
Wei Chen, Department of Medical Cell Biology, School of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Mei-Ying Cai, Da-Peng Wei, Xia Wang, Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Da-Peng Wei, Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. 555wwwccc@sina.com
Telephone: +86-28-85501262
Received: February 23, 2004
Revised: February 24, 2004
Accepted: March 18, 2004
Published online: June 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of several important molecules involved in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation pathway in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to determine whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) vaccine therapy was suitable for HCC.

METHODS: Labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) method of immunohisto-chemistry was used to study 33 HCC tissue specimens.

RESULTS: Most HCC tissues and adjacent histological normal hepatocytes expressed HLA-I antigens,TAP, and B7, expression of B7 was especially strong, and there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The MHC class I presentation pathway in primary hepatocellular carcinoma may not be abnormal or dysfunctional, and CTL could kill these tumor cells. Thus, it is suitable and practicable to design and construct CTL vaccine against HCC.

Keywords: MHC I; Hepatocellular carcinoma