摘要
AIM To evaluate the relationship between expression of ras, p53, bcl 2 gene products, and hepatocarcinogenesis since endotoxemia produced from lipopolysaccharide admi nistration and/or the hypophagocytic state of splenectomy significantly accelerated hepatocarcinogenesis induced by thioacetamide. 〖WTH4〗METHODS〓〖WTXFZ〗The hepatocarcinoma model was induced by oral intake of 0 03% thioacetamide for six months. During the induction of hepatocarcinoma model, rats were additionally treated with splenectomy and/or lipopolysaccharide administration. The techniques of flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectronmicroscopy were applied to quantitative analysis of the expression of oncogene proteins. RESULTS In this model system, overexpression of ras p21 protein mainly occurred on precancerous cell population or in early stage of hepatocyte transformation. And the levels of ras p21 declined when nuclear DNA aneuploid increased. Expression of bcl 2 protein slowly and steadily rose with more hepatocytes staying in S+G2M phases as the hepatocarcinoma became more malignant. P53 was moderately expressed during the hepatocarcinogenesis. There was no statistical correlation between endotoxemia levels and the changes of ras, p53 and bcl 2 gene products. CONCLUSION Over expression of oncogene ras p21 was likely to be a precursor of the premalignant hepatocytes and it might be responsible for the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis. Bcl 2 protein expression is proportional to the severity of the malignancies. P53 may be a key pathway on the transformation and development of hepatocarcinoma. This study confirmed the hypothesis that there are multiple genes and multiple steps involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Expressions of oncogene proteins reflected the properties of the premalignant and malignant cells, but not directly related to endotoxemia statistically.[JP]