[Gli1 expression and its relationship with the expression of Shh, Vimentin and E-cadherin in human hepatocellular carcinoma].

To investigate the expression and clinical features of glima-associated oncogene 1(Gli1) and its correlation with the expression of sonic hedgehog(Shh), one of the ligands of hedgehog (Hh) signaling, and two epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, Vimentin and E-cadherin in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Paired HCC and normal tumor-adjacent tissues were collected from 63 HCC patients. Gli1 expression at both the protein and mRNA level were examined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The protein expression of Shh, Vimentin and E-cadherin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry to identify correlations with Gli1. The protein and mRNA expression of Gli1 were significantly up-regulated in the HCC tumor tissues compared to the normal tumor-adjacent tissues. Gli1 protein expression in HCC was closely correlated with intrahepatic metastases (x(2);=6.205, P<0.05), portal vein invasion (x(2);=4.014, P<0.05), high Edmonson-Steiner classification (x(2);=19.668, P<0.05) and advanced TNM stage (x(2);=7.091, P<0.05). Gli1 protein expression was positively correlated with Shh (r=0.574, P<0.05) and Vimentin(r=0.467, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with E-cadherin (r=-0.439, P<0.05). Gli1 is up-regulated in HCC tissues and closely correlated with clinicopathological characteristics, the increased expression of Gli1 in HCC tissues may be attributed to Shh, and Gli1 may play an important role in HCC progression and metastasis by inducing EMT.