Detection of telomerase RNA component in human liver tissues

This study investigated the relationship between telomerase activity and telomerase RNA component (telomerase RNA) in human liver tissues. Telomerase RNA was detected in all hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues (20/20), and telomerase activity was detected in 18 (90.00%) of the 20 HCC tissues. Telomerase RNA was detected in 17 (89.47%) of 19 livers with liver cirrhosis, and telomerase activity was detected in eight (42.11%) of the 19 tissues. In livers with chronic hepatitis, telomerase RNA was detected in 11 (64.71%) of 17, and telomerase activity was detected in six (35.29%) of the 17 tissues. Telomerase RNA was detected in all the tissues with telomerase activity detected, i.e. 19 HCC tissues, 17 liver cirrhosis tissues and 11 chronic hepatitis tissues. In all normal tissues (n = 3), telomerase RNA and activity were not detected. From our results, one can deduce that the production of telomerase is thought to be under the control of telomerase RNA, the possibility is great that chronic hepatitis tissues and liver cirrhosis tissues become HCC when the telomerase RNA is positive. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.