Identification and expression analysis of the aldo–ketoreductase1-B10 gene in primary malignant liver tumours

Background & Aims The aim of our study was to search for highly up-regulated genes in primary malignant liver tumours and to analyse their expression at the mRNA- and protein level. Methods Using a random-based gene fishing approach (representational difference analysis coupled to array hybridisation) we identified 7 genes high abundantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as compared to non-neoplastic liver tissue, among them a gene fragment of the aldo–ketoreductase (AKR) superfamily. Full length cloning and sequencing of the gene fragment identified it as B10 gene of the AKR-family 1 (AKR1B10). For expression analysis on transcriptional level quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed in 22 HCC and 22 non-neoplastic liver cirrhotic tissues. Results Our data demonstrate significantly higher expression levels of AKR1B10-mRNA in HCC compared to non-tumourous cirrhotic liver tissue ( p < 0.0001). To evaluate its protein expression in primary malignant liver tumours, we investigated tissue arrays of 210 HCC and 51 cholangiocarcinomas (CC) by immunohistochemistry, using a monoclonal antibody against AKR1B10. Protein staining of AKR1B10 was significantly increased in well and moderately differentiated tumours compared to corresponding non-neoplastic liver tissue ( p = 0.023). However, AKR1B10-staining decreased in advanced, low differentiated tumours with a significant inverse correlation between AKR1B10-staining and tumour proliferation, indicated by Ki67 (MIB-1) staining ( r = −0.89, p = 0.02). Conclusion The over-expression of AKR1B10 in early stages of well and moderately differentiated tumours and its down-regulation in advanced tumour-stages with low grade of differentiation demonstrated that AKR1B10 may be a helpful marker for differentiation and proliferation of HCC and CC.