肝细胞核因子与肝细胞癌关系的研究进展

Advances in Studies on Relationship of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factors with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

肝细胞核因子(HNFs)是一类在肝脏优势表达的转录因子,可调控多种重要肝细胞功能基因表达,在肝脏发育以及肝细胞分化、功能维持中起关键作用。近年来,越来越多的证据显示HNFs家族成员与肝细胞癌(HCC)的发生、发展密切相关。许多研究表明HCC细胞和组织中HNFs表达下调,利用基因工程手段上调HCC细胞中的特定HNF表达,可抑制肿瘤细胞增殖,诱导其向成熟肝细胞分化,为HCC的治疗提供了新的思路。

Hepatocyte nuclear factors （HNFs） are a family of transcription factors that are preferentially expressed in hepatoeytes. They regulate the expressions of many important liver function associated genes and play a critical role in liver development, hepatocyte differentiation and the maintenance of hepatic function. In recent years, growing evidences demonstrated that HNFs were closely related to the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Many studies proved that expressions of HNFs were down-regulated in HCC cells and tissues. Up-regulating the expression of specific HNF in HCC cells through genetic engineering approach might inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and induce tumor cells differentiation to mature hepatic cells, which may provide a novel insight for the treatment of HCC.