Effect of HCV NS3 protein on P53 protein expression in hepatocarcinogenesis

AIM To investigate hepatocarcinogenesis by detecting the effect of HCV NS 3 protein on P53 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pericarcinomatous liver tissue (PCLT). METHODS The expression of HCV NS 3 and P53 protein was detected with immunohistochemical technique (SP method) in specimens of HCC and PCLT from 47 patients with negative HBV. RESULTS The positive rate of HCV NS 3 protein was lower in HCC (62%) than in PCLT (83%) ( P <0 025). The better differentiaton of cancer cells, the stronger expression of HCV NS 3 protein ( P <0 025). The positive rate of P53 protein in HCC (81%) was higher than in PCLT (47%) ( P <0 025). The worse differentiaton of cancer cells, the stronger expression of P53 protein ( P <0 05). The P53 protein expression was not correlated with the HCV NS 3 protein expression in HCC ( P >0 5), whereas their expression was closely related to PCLT ( P <0 01), and the expression rate of P53 protein in the cases of positive HCV NS 3 protein was higher than that in the cases of negative HCV NS 3 protein. CONCLUSION HCV NS 3 protein may exert its hepatocarcinogenic effect in early stage on host cells by endogenous pathway which may bring about mutation of p53 gene and transformation of hepatocytes.