Reduced expression of cenp-e in human hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 2009, Vol.28, p.156
• Main Authors: Liu, Zijie, Ling, Kang, Wu, Xia, Cao, Ju, Liu, Bin, Li, Suyan, Si, Qiong, Cai, Yan, Yan, Chen, Zhang, Yan, Weng, Yaguang
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Development and progression; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Hepatoma; Physiological aspects
• ISSN: 0392-9078
• DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-28-156

CENP-E, one of spindle checkpoint proteins, plays a crucial role in the function of spindle checkpoint. Once CENP-E expression was interrupted, the chromosomes can not separate procedurally, and may result in aneuploidy which is a hallmark of most solid cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigate the expression of CENP-E in human hepatocellular carcinoma,. and analyze the effect of low CENP-E expression on chromosome separation in normal liver cell line (LO2). We determined its levels in HCC and para-cancerous tissues, human hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line (HepG2) and LO2 cell line using real time quantitative PCR (QPCR) and Western blot. Further to know whether reduction in CENP-E expression impairs chromosomes separation in LO2 cells. we knocked down CENP-E using shRNA expressing vector and then count the aneuploid in LO2 cells using chromosomal counts assay. We found that both CENP-E mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in HCC tissues and HepG2 cells compared with para-cancerous tissues and LO2 cells, respectively. A significantly-increased proportion of aneuploid in these down-knocked LO2 cells compared with those treated with control shRNA vector. Together with other results, these results reveal that CENP-E expression was reduced in human HCC tissue, and low CENP-E expression result in aneuploidy in LO2 cells.