Objective To compare the positive rate of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glyco- protein between primary hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tissues and paratumor tissues， and to explore the relationship between the 3 kinds of proteins and pathological features of HCC. Methods Thirty-two HCC tissues and 26 paratumor tissues resected from patients with HCC treated in our hospital from Feb. 2009 to Aug. 2010 were enrolled. Clinical data were also collected from files. The expressions of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein were tested by immunohistochemistry. Results The positive rate of zinc finger protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein in HCC tissues were 87.5%（28/32）， 81.3%（26/32）， and 65.6%（21/32）， respectively， which were higher than that in paratumor tissues〔61.5%（16/26）， 34.6%（9/26）， and 30.8%（8/26）， respectively〕， P＜0.05. The three kinds of proteins were all closely related with HbsAg， and zinc finger protein A20 was related with cirrhosis in addition （P＜0.05）. Conclusions The positive rate of zinc protein A20， NF-κB p65 protein， and P-glycoprotein are much higher in primary HCC tissues than that in paratumor tissus， and they may play an important role in preoperative determination of hepatic tumors.
Objective To examine the effect of zinc finger protein A20 on regeneration of small-for-sized liver allograft, graft rejection and recipient rat survival time. Methods Small-for-sized liver transplantation with 30% partial liver allograft was performed by using a b-rejection combination rat model of DA (RT1a) to Lewis (RT1l) rats. The rats were grouped into rAdEasy-A20 treatment group （A20 group）, the control empty Ad vector rAdEasy treatment group (rAdEasy group) and PS control treatment group (PS group). Ex vivo gene transfer in donor liver graft was performed through portal vein infusion. Animals were assessed for survival days, expression of A20 in liver graft, liver graft regeneration, hepatocyte apoptosis, graft rejection, NF-κB activation and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in liver graft sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), number of liver graft infiltrating mononuclear cells (LIMCs) and the subproportion of NK/NKT cells, and serum IFN-γ level. Results Survival day of A20 group rats was prominently longer than that of PS group rats and rAdEasy group rats (P=0.001 8), whereas survival day of rAdEasy group rats was remarkably shorter than that of PS group rats (P=0.001 8). Regeneration of the small-for-sized liver allograft was markedly augmented by A20, BrdU labelling index of hepatocyte on postoperative day 4 was significantly increased in the A20 group compared with the PS group and rAdEasy group (P＜0.01). Hepatocyte apoptosis on postoperative day 4 was significantly inhibited by A20 (P＜0.01). On postoperative day 4, histologic examination revealed a mild rejection in the A20 group but a more severe rejection in the PS and rAdEasy groups. NF-κB activity and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in LSECs on postoperative day 1 were notably suppressed by A20 overexpression. Flow cytometry analysis showed a marked downregulation of LIMCs number by A20, including more prominent decrease in the subproportion of NK/NKT cells on postoperative day 1 and 4, respectively (P＜0.05). Serum IFN-γ level on postoperative day 4 was also significantly suppressed by A20 overexpression (P＜0.05). Conclusion These data suggest that A20 could effectively promote small-for-sized liver allograft regeneration, suppresses rejection and prolong survival days of recipient rats. These effects of A20 could be related to an inhibition of LSECs activation, suppression of infiltration of LIMCs and the subpopulations such as NK cells and NKT cells into liver graft, and inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis.