Liver-Specific Inactivation of the Proprotein Convertase FURIN Leads to Increased Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth

Figure 4

Expression of biomarkers for human HCC is not altered upon genetic ablation of Furin in the liver. The expression levels of Glypican 3 (Gpc3) (a) and alpha-fetoprotein (Afp) (b) were significantly increased in the liver tumors compared to those in normal livers at every time point investigated as assessed by qRT-PCR. However, the expression levels of Gpc3 and Afp were similar in tumors of Furin knockout and Furin wild type mice as assessed by qRT-PCR. Two-way ANOVA was used to determine statistical significance. Data are represented as fold induction ± SEM relative to ASVB^−/− Alb-Cre^−/−   mice (–5).

(a)

(b)