Expression of TRAIL Receptors in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Apoptosis Induced by TRAIL

摘要

Objective: To investigate the expression of TRAIL receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma and neighboring non-tumor liver tissues and to study its roles in apoptosis of SK-Hepl cell line. Methods:The expression of TRAIL receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and in SK-Hepl cell line was detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR, and the apoptosis of SK-Hepl cell line induced by recombi-nant human TRAIL together with or without INF-γ was measured by FCM. Results: The expression of four TRAIL receptors was detectable in human hepatocellular carcinoma and neighboring non-tumor liver tissues. High expression of DR4 and DR5 was detected in tumor and neighboring non-tumor liver tissues whereas low expression of DcR1 and DcR2 was found in tumor, significantly lower than that in normalliver tissues (67.86% vs 100%, 78.57% vs 100%, respectively, P<0.01. TRAIL together with INF-γ stronglyincreased the apoptosis of SK Hepl cell line. Conclusion: The four TRAIL receptors can be detected in hepatocellular carcinoma and in SK-Hepl cell line. Combinations of TRAIL and INF-γ may be a useful alternative to HCC.