Expression level of glutamine synthetase is increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver tissue with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B

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http://www.springerlink.com/content/f111p5q4h7714888/

Hepatology International

DOI: 10.1007/s12072-010-9230-2Online FirstT

Original Article

Expression level of glutamine synthetase is increased in hepatocellular

carcinoma and liver tissue with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B

Jiang Long, Huaguang Wang, ZhenWei Lang, Tailing Wang, Mei Long and BaoEn Wang

Abstract

Studies have suggested that glutamine synthetase (GS) is a potential marker of

hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate the expression of GS in

non-malignant liver tissue and serum GS levels in HCC, liver cirrhosis (LC),

chronic hepatitis B (CHB), five kinds of extrahepatic diseases patients and

healthy subjects. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess GS expression in

260 liver tissue samples (from 120 HCC, 90 CHB stage 4, and 50 CHB stage 1-3

patients). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of 325 samples (from 100 healthy

donors, 33 CHB stage 1-3, 43 CHB stage 4, 111 HCC, and 45 extrahepatic diseases

patients) were used to further analyze GS levels in serum. IHC studies showed

the expression of GS in 70% of HCC patients, 46.7% of CHB stage 4 patients and

38% of CHB stage 1-3 patients. The ÷2 tests showed significant difference

between HCC samples and non-tumor tissues (P = 0.001 for HCC vs. CHB stage 4, P

= 0.000 for HCC vs. CHB). Consistent with this, serum GS levels are increased in

HCC and CHB stage 1-4 patients. There are significant differences among all

samples (P = 0.000 for all), except CHB stage 1-3 versus CHB stage 4 (P =

0.552). Based on multiple linear regressions, HCC, CHB stage 1-4 and AFP were

significantly associated with serum GS levels. In addition, in HCC group, TNM

and Child-Pugh were significantly associated with GS levels. Expression of GS is

increased in HCC, LC, and CHB. It may be a new serum marker for liver disease.