ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to investigate the expression and clinicopathologic significance of Gli1 and Gli2, 2 factors of Hedgehog(Hh) signaling pathway, in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Gli1 and Gli2 mRNA and protein in 18 cases of NHL and 10 cases of reactive lymphadenitis were amplified and identified by real-time PCR, and were assayed by immunohistochemical staining respectively. The results showed that (1) Gli1 and Gli2 mRNA in NHL group (RQ 2.05, 2.31) were expressed higher than that in reactive lymphadenitis group (RQ 0.82, 0.89). Gli1 mRNA activated level was positively related with Gli2 (r = 0.63, p < 0.01). In addition, Gli2 also positively correlated to clinical stages of NHL (p = 0.03), but the expressions of Gli1 and Gli2 mRNA had no significant correlation to B symptoms, blood β(2)-microglobulin, age and sex. (2) The positive expression rate of Gli1 and Gli2 protein in NHL group were 80% and 68% respectively, which were extremely higher than that in reactive lymphadenitis group. Gli1 protein level was positively related with Gli2 (r = 0.62, p < 0.05). Both Gli1 and Gli2 protein expression positively correlated to clinical staging of NHL (p = 0.05, p = 0.01). It is concluded that the Gli1 and Gli2 of Hh signaling pathway have been found to higher express in patients with NHL, and have significance for clinical staging and predicting prognosis of NHL. To further investigate the role of Hh signaling pathway in NHL will contribute to elucidate the occurrence and development of NHL, and provide a favorable method for therapy of NHL.