关键词: 大鼠肝癌模型, PIWI/piRNA通路, Piwil4, Mael, Ddx4

Abstract: The expression level of PIWI and piRNA closed related to cancer tape. The expression levels of Piwil2 genes in the liver tissues is significantly higher than paracancerous tissue in liver tissue. PIWI/piRNA pathway genes including the Piwil4, Mael and Ddx4 are candidate genes, expressed in many kinds of cancer tissues. But the study on PIWI/piRNA pathway genes in hepatoma tissues has not been reported. This study was aimed to explore the roles and possible mechanisms of Piwil4, Mael and Ddx4 genes in the occurrence and progress of hepatocellular carcinoma. We established rat hepatoma model and the serum was extracted to detect the tumor markers by ELISA. The transcription and protein expression levels of Piwil4, Mael and Ddx4 genes in the liver tissues of the control and model groups were detected by qRT-PCR, Western-blot and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the content of tumor markers in serum of rats with hepatoma  increased significantly. And the results indicated that the PIWI/piRNA pathway gene including the Piwil4, Mael and Ddx4 were active in rat hepatoma model. Research showed that surveillance of PIWI expression in rat hepatoma model may be a prognostic markers for detection and treatment of hepatoma.

Key words: rat hepatoma model, PIWI/piRNA pathway, Piwil4, Mael, Ddx4