Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 15, 1998; 4(2): 125-127
Published online Apr 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i2.125
Codon 249 mutations of p53 gene in development of hepatocellular carcinoma
Xiao-Mou Peng, Wen-Wei Peng, Ji-Lu Yao
Xiao-Mou Peng, Wen-Wei Peng, Ji-Lu Yao, Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
Xiao-Mou Peng, male, born on October 28, 1963, in Chaling County, Hunan Province, graduated from Department of Medicine, Hunan University of Medical Sciences. Instructor, engaged in the study on viral hepatitis, having 10 papers published. Presented at the International Symposium on Hepatology, Beijing, China, 12-15 August, 1997.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Mou Peng, Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
Telephone: +86·20·85516867-2019
Received: March 15, 1998
Revised: March 25, 1998
Accepted: April 2, 1998
Published online: April 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms of codon 249 mutation of p53 gene in the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: Codon 249 mutation accompanied by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and its effect on translation and transcription were studied using SSCP, IHC and RT-PCR/slot hybridization.

RESULTS: Codon 249 mutations were detected in 32.9%, LOH detected in 68.4% among the HCC patients. Mutations of condon 249 were accompa-nied by LOH in 90%. The positive rates of p53 protein and mRNA were 91.3% and 95.7%, in mutational group, both were significantly higher than those in the non-mutational group (91.3% vs 19.1% and 95.7% vs 40.4%, respectively, both P < 0.01). The translation of p53 gene was strongly related to its transcription by correlation analysis (r = 0.8208).

CONCLUSIONS: LOH might play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis of codon 249 mutation, which could increase both transcription and translation of p53 gene. The increased expression of p53 protein mainly depend on the increased transcription of p53 gene.

Keywords: liver neoplasms; carcinoma, hepatocellular; p53 gene; mutation; RNA, messenger; LOH; codon 249; immunohistochemistry; polymerase chain veaction