Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway in primary liver cancer cells

Objective: To investigate clinical significance of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway molecular Shh, Smo and Gli2 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Methods: A total of 30 HCC tissue samples were collected. Protein expression of SHH signaling pathway molecules Shh, Smo and Gli2 in HCC tissues and para - carcinoma tissue were detected by using immunohistochemical method. Cirrhosis and normal liver tissue specimens were observed as control to analyze the expression of SHH signaling pathway molecular Shh. Smo and Gli2 mRNA in HCC tissues and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues and its relationship with the onset of HCC. Results: There was no expression of Shh, Smo and Gli2 protein in normal liver tissue, while their positive rates were 63.3%, 76.7% and 66.7% in HCC tissues, respectively, with a significantly higher expression level than that in the para - carcinoma tissue (P<0.05). The protein expressions in HepG2 cells were slightly lower than that in Huh7 cells, with no statistical difference (P>0.05); Shh and Smo protein was detected in part of cirrhosis with positive expression, but Gli2 protein was not observable in cirrhosis tissues. Conclusions: In HCC tissues, the high expression level of SHH signaling pathway molecules signal peptide (Shh), membrane protein receiptor (Smo) and nuclear transcription molecular (Gli2) can be indicators of the onset of liver cancer.