Identification of mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis by analysi of microRNA

利用从肝细胞癌患者中获得的microRNA来研究肝癌发生的机制。12种miRNA的表达，尤其是miR-18b的表达，与组织分化程度相关。miR-18b可以控制含有6B作为靶基因的三核苷酸重复序列的表达。过表达miR-18b或下调TNCR6B会加速细胞增殖，丧失细胞粘附能力。miR-18b高表达HCC患者的无复发期明显短于低表达HCC患者。miR-18b是HCC进展的诊断和预后标志物。

The mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis was investigated using microRNA obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of 12 miRNA, especially miR-18b expression, varied significantly correlated to degree of histological differentiation. miR-18b can control the expression of trinucleotide repeat containing 6B as a target gene. Over-expression of miR-18b or down-regulation of TNCR6B accelerated cell proliferation and loss of cell adhesion ability. HCC patients with high miR-18b expression had a significantly shorter relapse-free period than those with low expression. miR-18b is a diagnostic and prognostic marker for HCC progression.