BACKGROUND: Although the hepatoma-specific band of gamma-glutamyltransferase ( GGT ) is a highly sensitive marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the kine- tic expression and the early alterations of GGT in ...BACKGROUND: Although the hepatoma-specific band of gamma-glutamyltransferase ( GGT ) is a highly sensitive marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the kine- tic expression and the early alterations of GGT in the deve- lopment of hepatoma remain unclear. In this study, we in- vestigated the expression and the alterations of GGT multi- ple molecular forms in hepatotumorigenesis. METHODS: The expression of GGT in a chemically in- duced hepatocarcinogenesis model was examined by giving 0. 05% of 2-fluoenylacetamide in diet for 12 weeks. The ex- pression levels of total RNA and GGT, and the changes of liver pathology, GGT multiple molecular forms and sugar- chain heterogeneity were investigated at the different stages of rat hepatoma development. RESULTS: Pathological examination and biochemical ana- lysis found that liver GGT was over-expressed and secreted into blood during canceration. Serum total GGT and liver GGT specific activities (IU/g) including soluble and mem- brane-combined GGT were significantly higher (P <0.05) in experimental groups than those in control group, respec- tively. A highly positive correlation was found between to- tal GGT activities and total RNA levels (r =0.90, P <0.05) of the liver. Both were higher six weeks later than before. Con A-non-reactive-GGT was increased consistantly dur- ing the development of rat hepatoma. GGT multiple mo- lecular forms in the liver and sera of experimental rats showed that fetal liver-type GGT bands were associated with the development of hepatoma. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal liver-type GGT in sera and the liver of rats is closely related to hepatotumorigenesis. It can be used as a sensitive enzymatic marker for the early diagnosis of liver cancer.展开更多
基金This study was supported by a grant from Key Projects of Medical Sciences Department of Health , Jiangsu Province, China ( RC2003100 ).
文摘BACKGROUND: Although the hepatoma-specific band of gamma-glutamyltransferase ( GGT ) is a highly sensitive marker in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the kine- tic expression and the early alterations of GGT in the deve- lopment of hepatoma remain unclear. In this study, we in- vestigated the expression and the alterations of GGT multi- ple molecular forms in hepatotumorigenesis. METHODS: The expression of GGT in a chemically in- duced hepatocarcinogenesis model was examined by giving 0. 05% of 2-fluoenylacetamide in diet for 12 weeks. The ex- pression levels of total RNA and GGT, and the changes of liver pathology, GGT multiple molecular forms and sugar- chain heterogeneity were investigated at the different stages of rat hepatoma development. RESULTS: Pathological examination and biochemical ana- lysis found that liver GGT was over-expressed and secreted into blood during canceration. Serum total GGT and liver GGT specific activities (IU/g) including soluble and mem- brane-combined GGT were significantly higher (P <0.05) in experimental groups than those in control group, respec- tively. A highly positive correlation was found between to- tal GGT activities and total RNA levels (r =0.90, P <0.05) of the liver. Both were higher six weeks later than before. Con A-non-reactive-GGT was increased consistantly dur- ing the development of rat hepatoma. GGT multiple mo- lecular forms in the liver and sera of experimental rats showed that fetal liver-type GGT bands were associated with the development of hepatoma. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal liver-type GGT in sera and the liver of rats is closely related to hepatotumorigenesis. It can be used as a sensitive enzymatic marker for the early diagnosis of liver cancer.