Published online Jan 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i2.264
Revised: December 29, 2003
Accepted: January 15, 2004
Published online: January 14, 2005
AIM: To study genetic difference of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) between two hepatocarcinoma cell lines (Hca-F and Hca-P) with diverse metastatic characteristics and the relationship between mtDNA changes in cancer cells and their oncogenic phenotype.
METHODS: Mitochondrial DNA D-loop, tRNAMet+Glu+Ile and ND3 gene fragments from the hepatocarcinoma cell lines with 1100, 1126 and 534 bp in length respectively were analysed by PCR amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. The D-loop 3’ end sequence of the hepatocarcinoma cell lines was determined by sequencing.
RESULTS: No amplification fragment length polymorphism and restriction fragment length polymorphism were observed in tRNAMet+Glu+Ile, ND3 and D-loop of mitochondrial DNA of the hepatocarcinoma cells. Sequence differences between Hca-F and Hca-P were found in mtDNA D-loop.
CONCLUSION: Deletion mutations of mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment may not play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Genetic difference of mtDNA D-loop between Hca-F and Hca-P, which may reflect the environmental and genetic influences during tumor progression, could be linked to their tumorigenic phenotypes.