Protein level of apolipoprotein E increased in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Many reports suggest that hepatic steatosis leads to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including hepatitis C virus or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Proteomic study of tumor tissues from HCC patients, focusing on apolipoprotein (apo) of apoA1, apoB100 and apoE, was performed by immunoblotting. Although the significant changes of apoA1 or apoB100 could not be shown statistically, the immunoblotting showed the increase in protein level of apoE in the tumor tissues of 88% of patients without increase of apoE gene expression and serum level. These results suggest the accumulation of apoE by impaired secretion. Moreover, immunoblot analysis on two-dimensional electrophoresis showed a strong possibility that sialylated forms of apoE also were increased in tumorous tissues of HCC. ApoE level in tumorous tissues is frequently elevated and may be a good histological marker for HCC.