Objective: To observe and compare the expressions and cellular distributions of p115 and MIF in a normal human hepatic cell line(LO2) and different hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines(SMCC-7721

HepG2).Methods: The expressions of p115 and MIF proteins were measured using Western blot analysis.The mRNA levels of p115 and MIF were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).p115 and MIF expressions were further studied with immunocytochemistry techniques.Results: The results of RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expressions of p115 and MIF of control group(LO2) were obviously weaker than that of those HepG2 and SMCC-7721;furthermore

in HepG2 the expressions were weaker than in SMCC-7721.The results of immunohistochemical cell staining of the p115 showed that yellow or brown granules were located in the cytoplasm in different hepatocellular carcinoma cells(SMCC-7721

HepG2)

but in LO2 cells most of them were located on the Golgi complex.The cell staining for MIF was located in the cytoplasm of the normal hepatic cell line and in the different hepatocelluar carcinoma cells.Moreover

The expression of MIF in LO2 was weaker than that of HepG2

and that of HepG2 was weaker than that of SMCC-7721.Conclusion: The expressions of p115 and MIF in different hepatocellular carcinoma cells are dramatically higher than those in the normal human hepatic cell line

and p115 and MIF are strongly expressed in the SMCC-7721 cell line.The expressions and distributions of p115 and MIF are related to the stage of differentiation of cancer cells.