APOBEC3B: A potential factor suppressing growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background: To realize the role of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3B (APOBEC3B) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence, mRNAs of APOBEC3B from tumor and nontumor tissues of patients with hepatectomy were isolated and in vitro studies were designed. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two tumor and non-tumor tissue samples, as well as clinical data, were collected from HCC patients during hepatectomy. The mRNA of APOBEC3B was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The viability of pLVAPOBEC3B-transfected Hep 3B cells was then determined. Cell growth of pLV-APOBEC3B-transfected Hep 3B cells was evaluated by in vitro migration assay. Results: The realtime polymerase chain reaction results indicated a higher expression of APOBEC3B mRNA in tumor tissues than in non-tumor tissues of patients with HBsAg⁺ HCC. The expression of APOBEC3B in tumor or non-tumor tissue was not found to be a risk factor of recurrence in patients with HCC. The cell viability assay results indicated the growthinhibitory effects of APOBEC3B on Hep 3B cells. The cell migration results indicated that APOBEC3B inhibits wound healing in Hep 3B cells. Conclusion: Based on these observations, we infer that APOBEC3B is a potential factor contributing to suppression of tumor growth in HCC.