Figure 1

Nucleolin mRNA and protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues. (A) Representative graph of nucleolin mRNA levels in HCC tissues and adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues (NL). (B) Quantitative RT-PCR assay showed significantly decreased nucleolin mRNA level in HCC tissues compared with adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues (P < 0.001). (C) Representative Western blotting of nucleolin protein levels in HCC tissues and adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues (NL). (D) Semiquantitative Western blotting showed that the expression levels of nucleolin protein were significantly lower than those in adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues (P < 0.001). GAPDH was used as internal control. Means, standard deviation (SD), and P values were given (T test). (E), nucleolin positive staining was indicated by numerous yellowish granules in the nucleus, cytoplasm and/or cytoplasmic membrane of HCC cells (Original magnification × 400). (F) Semiquantitative immunoreactive scores showed that the expression levels of nucleolin protein were significantly lower than those in adjacent nonneoplastic liver tissues (P < 0.01).