Cyclophilin A Is Overexpressed in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Is Associated with the Cell Cycle

Aim: To investigate the expression of cyclophilin A (CypA) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the effects of CypA on the cell cycle in HCC. Materials and Methods: CypA expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 48 cases of HCC tissues and paired adjacent tissues. CypA plasmid was transfected into HCC cells and the cell cycle was analyzed. Results: Positivity for CypA was higher in HCC tissues than in adjacent tissues (79.1% vs. 12.5%, p<0.05). Positivity for CypA was significantly higher in stage III and IV HCC than in stage I and II (p<0.05). Elevated CypA induced an increase of the percentage of S-phase cells (from 34.79% to 42.14%) and a decrease of G(0)-G(1) phase cells (from 58.10% to 50.64%). Conclusion: CypA is overexpressed in HCC and is associated with TNM stage. CypA also appears to promote the transition of the cell cycle from G(1) to S phase.