目的检测原发性肝癌患者PD-1基因拷贝数及其转录和蛋白表达水平,研究宿主免疫调节因子PD-1基因拷贝数差异与肝癌的相关性。方法采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测24例原发性肝癌患者PD-1基因拷贝数和外周血单个核细胞PD-1 mRNA表达水平,采用流式细胞术检测外周血CD8+T细胞PD-1蛋白表达水平。对照组为26例血清抗-HBs阳性健康者。结果肝癌组和对照组PD-1基因单拷贝率分别为34.62%和4.17%,多拷贝率分别为61.54%和95.83%,两组间分布差异有统计学意义(X^2=7.639,P=0.006),肝癌组人群PD-1基因多倍体率显著高于对照组。PD-1mRNA表达平均值对照组为2.35E-03,肝癌组为1.23E-03,Mann.whitey检验比较两组间表达差异有统计学意义,肝癌组明显低于健康对照组(U=153,P=0.009);CD8+T细胞PD-1蛋白表达频率对照组(3.72±0.32),肝癌组PD-1表达频率(16.13±1.68),肝癌组PD-1表达比健康对照组高,差异有统计学意义(t=-7.073,P=0.000)。结论PD-1基因多拷贝可能是HBV感染者发生肝癌的高危因素。PD-1基因拷贝数差异与原发性肝癌的关系值得进-步研究。
Objective To study the gene copy number, mRNA transcription and protien expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) patients and normal control individuals (NC) who are anti-HBs positive, and to investigate the variations in PD-1 gene copy numbers and its relationship with PHC. Methods Real-time PCR was adopted to detect the PD-I gene copy numbers and their mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 24 samples of PHC patients and 26 of NC. Protein expression level of PD-1 on CD8+ T was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results In terms of number of PD-1 gene copy numbers, the percentage of cases of haploid (single) was 34. 62% and 4.17% in PHC group and control group respectively while the percentage of cases of diploid (double) was 61.54% and 95.83% respectively. The difference between the two was statistically significant (X2 = 7. 639 ,P = 0.006). The rate of cases with double PD-I gene copy numbers was found to be higher in patients with PHC than in control group. It was also found that the average expression of PD-1 mRNA was 2. 35E-03 in control group and 1.23E-03 in PHC group. The expression level was significant lower in PHC group than that in control group when compared by using Mann-whitey technic ( U = 153, P = 0. 009 ). Furthermore, the frequency of PD-1 protein expression on CD8+ T cells was 3.72 ±0.32 in control group and 16.13 ± 1.68 in PHC group. The level of PD-1 mRNA expression was higher in PHC and significant differences was shown between two groups( t = - 7. 073, P = 0. 000). Conclusions Our study suggests that the variation in PD-1 gene copy number may trigger primary hepatocellular carcinoma to HBV carriers. The relationship between the variation of PD-1 gene copy numbers and its association with primary hepatocellular carcinoma is worth further focus.