THE EXPRESSION PATTERN OF GALECTIN-3 IN THE RAT HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most frequent cause of cancer death world wide, with an estimated mortality rate of about one million deaths annually. Galectin-3 is widely spread among different types of cells and tissues. Galectin-3 found intracellularly in nucleus and cytoplasm. Galectin-3 affects numerous biological processes and seems to be involved in different physiological and pathophysiological conditions, such as development, immune reactions, and neoplastic transformation and metastasis. In this study, we found over expression of galectin-3 protein and mRNA, in HCC tissue compared with normal liver tissue. In addition, we found expression of galectin-3 in the nuclear protein fraction. The overexpression of galectin-3 was accompanied with elevated levels of serum nitrite and aminotransferases (AST and ALT).