title: Zinc, copper, and superoxide dismutase in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn), a metalloenzyme, activity was found to be significantly lower in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma tissue) (0.78 +/- 0.33 U/microg protein) compared with that seen in the surrounding "normal" or cirrhotic tissue (1.40 +/- 0.48 U/microg; 1.27 +/- 0.64 U/microg). The SOD activity of "normal" appearing liver cells adjacent to the tumor or cirrhotic tissue is still lower than that level observed in the normal liver from the subjects without known liver disease (1.40 +/- 0.48 U/microg vs 2.94 +/- 1.53 U/microg). We have also observed that the trace elements of zinc and copper, which are essential in expressing the enzyme activity are also significantly lower in the hepatoma (22.54 +/- 6.73 microg and 2.83 +/- 1.16 microg per gram of tissue) compared with those in the surrounding "normal" hepatic tissue (Zn2+, 64.36 +/- 9.17 microg/g; Cu2+, 11.43 +/- 4.74 microg/g). The difference in the zinc content between the "normal" and the cirrhotic tissue is also significant (64.36 +/- 9.17 microg/g vs 42.37 +/- 10.97 microg/g). However, the copper content in the cirrhotic tissue is higher but not statistically different from that level in the "normal" tissue (15.53 +/- 5.90 microg/g vs 11.43 +/- 4.74 microg/g). Furthermore, the plasma zinc level is significantly lower among the patients who have suffered from hepatoma compared with those subjects without known liver disease (631.73 +/- 52.43 microg/L vs 845.53 +/- 68.13 microg/L). Our data suggest that the superoxide dismutase activity is impaired in the hepatoma tissue. The lower concentration of trace elements (Zn2+ and Cu2+) found in the hepatoma tissue may contribute to cause the difference in the observed enzymic activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin-Shiau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc