Interaction of hepatitis B virus with tumor suppressor gene p53: its significance and biological function

The mechanism of the interaction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with tumor suppressor p53 and its role in the hepatocar-cinogenesis have been studied by PCR-directed sequencing, gel shift assays and in situ ultraviolet cross-linking assay. The biological function of the interaction of HBV with p53 gene was investigated by co-transfection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase ( CAT) reporter gene. p53 and HBV DNA. and quantitative PCR. Among the 16 primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) samples. 13 were HBV-DNA positive. 10 HBxAg positive and 9 p53 protein positive. The p53 gene point mutation was found in 5 samples, one of which had a G to T substitution located at codon 249. After analyzing the HBV genome by a computer program, a p53 response element binding sequence was found in HBV genome at upstream of enhancer I. from 1047 to 1059 nucleotides. This sequence could specifically bind to p53 protein, increase p53 protein accumulation in the PHC cells and stimulate the transactivating activity of p53 and HBV replication . The results also revealed that HBxAg could combine with p53 protein to form a complex in the cells and enhance CAT expression. Immunocytochemical staining showed that p53 protein complex was located in the cytoplasm and the process of p53 entry to nuclei was. in part, blocked. From our results, we conclude that the mutation of p53 gene at codon 249 is infrequent in HBV-associated PHC. the DNA-protein binding between HBV and p53. and the protein-protein binding between HBxAg and p53 might lead to the reduction or inactivation of p53 protein, which in turn resulting in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.     

p53、Rb、p16抑癌基因在胃粘膜上皮异型增生病变中表达的意义

目的：研究p53、Rb和P16 3个抑癌基因在正常胃粘膜→异型增生粘膜→胃癌发展过程中的表达状态及相互关系。方法：收集胃手术及胃镜活检标本共60例,镜下观察胃粘膜并选取不增生病灶、35例胃腺癌和32例正常胃粘膜中的表达情况。应用聚合酶链反应单链构象多态性分析技术（PCR-SSCP）对35例胃腺癌进行p16基因点突变检测。结果：p53阳性率在轻、中、重度异型增生病灶的分别为7.5%、35.1%、59.1%,胃癌组为68.6%,正常对照组中无表达。Rb蛋白阳性率在轻、中、重度异型增生病灶中分别为80.0%、89.3%、81.8%,胃癌组为57.1%,正常对照组为90.6%。p16蛋白在正常胃粘膜、异型增生粘膜和胃癌中普遍表达,3组间阳性率比较无显著性差异。p16基因PCR-SSCP分析示只有1例低分化腺癌出现异常单链泳动带。不同类型（隐窝型、腺瘤型、再生型）异型增生病灶组间、位于癌旁和良性病变旁的异型增生病组间p53、Rb和p16蛋白的阳性率无显著性差异。高-中分化、低分化、未分化胃癌组p53、Rb和p16蛋白的阳性率无显著性差异。结论：突变型p53蛋白的积聚在胃粘膜异型增生阶段已经开始,随着异型增生程度的加重逐渐增加,重度病变中p53表达率与胃癌组相似,提示p53基因突变是胃癌发生过程中的早期事件。Rb蛋白在癌变组中缺失率较异型增生显著,可能是胃癌发生过程中的较晚事件。推测在p53基因突变的基础上加以Rb蛋白的缺失最终导致胃粘膜上皮癌变。p16蛋白的表达在胃癌发生过程的3个阶段病变中无显著的变化,可能不起要作用。不同类型（隐窝型、腺瘤型、再生型）异型增生间、癌旁或良性病变旁的异型增生间,不同分化程度的胃腺癌组间这3种抑癌基因蛋白表达状态基本相同。     

FHIT抑癌基因在头颈部鳞癌中的研究进展(综述)

脆性组氨酸三联体基因(FHIT)是1996年新发现的一种定位于人类染色体3p14．2上的抑癌基因，其编码的蛋白质具有ApnA水解酶的特性，可通过水解ApnA(主要是Ap3A)而阻止细胞生长信号传导途径，从而抑制细胞的生长；另有观点认为FHIT可与Ap3A等结合成FHIT底物复合物，这种复合物可能是一种信号物质，其抑癌作用可能比其水解酶作用更重要。研究表明FHIT在肿瘤的发生中起着重要的作用，现就FHIT在头颈部鳞癌中的研究进展作一综述。