Expression and significance of β-catenin in the L-02,WB,HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cells

Objective To investigate the abnormal expression of β-catenin and its role in the development and differentiation of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Four types of cell lines(L-02,WB,HepG2 and SMCC-7721) were attachment cultured and subcultured.The expression characteristics of β-catenin in those cells were detected by immunocytochemical staining.Results Of the L-02 cells,the β-catenin proteins were expressed totally on the cell membrane and none of them were expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus.Of the WB cells,the β-catenin proteins were expressed mainly on the cell membrane and slightly expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus.However,the β-catenin proteins were strongly and totally expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cells,and the β-catenin expressions in SMCC-7721 cells were higher than those of the HepG2 cells.Conclusions The translocated expression of β-catenin from the cell membrane to cytoplasm and nucleus may play an important role in the development and differentiation of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.