Open Access

Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Yan Yang
    • Jun‑Bin Wang
    • Yu‑Mei Li
    • Yu Zhao
    • Rui Wang
    • Qiong Wu
    • Rong‑Sheng Zheng
    • Yu‑Rong Ou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 25, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4622
  • Pages: 429-436
  • Copyright: © Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a newly-discovered cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family, serves an important role in inflammation. However, it is not clear whether IL‑33 is of clinical significance in hepatocarcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the role of IL‑33 during oncogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). IL‑33 protein expression was detected in 76 HCC (including 36 para‑carcinoma), 33 cirrhosis, 30 hepatitis, and 20 normal liver tissues using immunohistochemistry. IL‑33 mRNA expression in carcinoma and para‑carcinoma tissues was evaluated by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR). The possible correlation between IL‑33 and clinicopathological parameters of HCC was also analyzed. Significant differences in IL‑33 expression were not observed among normal, hepatic, and cirrhotic tissues (P>0.05), whereas the level of protein positive rate was markedly reduced in HCC tissues (P<0.01). Positive staining of IL‑33 in non‑cancerous liver (NCL) tissues (i.e. normal, hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis) was located predominantly in the nucleus and occasionally in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes; however, the expression in HCC tissues was mostly restricted to the cytoplasm. A significant alteration in protein localization was observed in HCC tissues as compared with NCL tissues (P<0.01). In comparison with HCC tissues, cytoplasmic staining of IL‑33 was increased in para‑carcinoma tissues. RT‑PCR assay further confirmed relatively high mRNA expression levels of IL‑33 in para‑carcinoma tissues. IL‑33 expression was significantly negatively associated with tumor histological grade (r=‑0.279, P=0.015), but not with year, gender, tumor size, clinical stage, HCC with hepatitis and cirrhosis background, lymph node metastasis or intrahepatic vascular embolism (P>0.05). Therefore, the aberrant expression of IL‑33 is associated with oncogenesis and progression of HCC and the cytoplasmic accumulation of the protein may serve a role in hepatocarcinogenesis.
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July-2016
Volume 12 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Yang Y, Wang JB, Li YM, Zhao Y, Wang R, Wu Q, Zheng RS and Ou YR: Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 12: 429-436, 2016
APA
Yang, Y., Wang, J., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, R., Wu, Q. ... Ou, Y. (2016). Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 12, 429-436. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4622
MLA
Yang, Y., Wang, J., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, R., Wu, Q., Zheng, R., Ou, Y."Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma". Oncology Letters 12.1 (2016): 429-436.
Chicago
Yang, Y., Wang, J., Li, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, R., Wu, Q., Zheng, R., Ou, Y."Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma". Oncology Letters 12, no. 1 (2016): 429-436. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4622