The relative quantification was depicted as the fold-change in expression of each gene using the formula 2ΔΔCt, as previously described [33]. Each assay was performed in duplicate. Western blot analysis The antibodies to MRE11 were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Sc-22,767), hTERT (ab-32,020) and POT1 (ab-124,784)

were purchased from Abcam, TRF2 (05-521) was purchased from Millipore, and the antibodies to Ku80 (2753S) and beta-Actin (4967S) were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology. Tumor extracts were homogenized SHP099 research buy and then lysed. The protein concentration was determined using the Bio-rad Dc Protein Assay Kit (Bio-rad). Equal amounts of proteins were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (MiniProtean TGX, BioRad) and fractionated proteins were transferred to PVDF membranes (Transblot Turbo, BioRad). These membranes were blocked in TBS containing 5% nonfat milk, 0.05% Tween 20, and then probed with the appropriate antibody followed by incubation with a secondary IgG HRP-linked antibody (Cell Signaling Technology). The blots were then developed using an enhanced chemiluminescence detection system (Clarity Western ECL, BioRad). Immunocytochemistry Ki67 was assessed using Selleckchem Ro-3306 the anti-Ki67 MoAbs (clone MIB-1 Dako,

on BenchMark Ventana XT). CC1 treatment (1/50) was performed before ultraview revelation. Ki67 immunohistochemistry was quantified by a pathologist. The percentage of labeled nuclear area over the total neoplastic and the non-neoplastic nuclear area

Flavopiridol (Alvocidib) in the section was quantified from 2000 cells in areas of highest nuclear labeling. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was performed using the 2-tailed Student’s t test or the Mann–Whitney U rank sum test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all analyses. All data analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software version 20. Results The main objective of this study was to determine whether differences exist in telomere deregulation between HBV-, HCV-, and alcohol-associated liver carcinogenesis. Liver carcinogenesis is a multistep process where clinical and histopathological features frequently permits the differentiation of the two main phases that include a cirrhotic stage followed by the development of overt HCC. Our collection of 80 liver samples was obtained from 40 patients with HCC. For each case 2 samples were analyzed that corresponded to tumoral and peritumoral tissue. The Table 1 shows that in 12 cases of HCC, peritumoral samples corresponded to histologically normal, non-cirrhotic liver tissue whereas in the 28 remaining cases, the peritumoral tissue was cirrhotic. We assumed that the development of cirrhosis from a histologically non-cirrhotic liver represents an early event during liver carcinogenesis, whereas the development of HCC from a cirrhotic liver reflects later carcinogenic events.