Objective: To investigate the roles of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: The expression of the GPI-PLD in HCC was determined. The GPI-PLD gene was stably transfected in HepG2 cells and the proliferation of these cells was detected; CD55, CD59 and apoptotic cells were also analyzed.
Results: The serum GPI-PLD activities, the protein and mRNA levels of GPI-PLD in HCC patients were decreased by 40%, 60% and 56%, respectively. The killing rate of CDC against the positive clone cells was significantly increased, but the proliferative capacity was obviously decreased. The apoptotic rate in positive clones was increased.
Conclusion: The expression of GPI-PLD decreases in HCC patients. The over-expression of GPI-PLD in HepG2 cells increases their sensitivity to CDC killing, impairs proliferative capacity and promotes apoptosis.