[Expression of growth hormone receptor and its mRNA in cirrhotic livers].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of growth hormone receptor in human cirrhotic livers.


METHODS
Radio-ligand binding assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to examine the expression of growth hormone receptor and its mRNA in cirrhotic liver tissues near cancer in 32 cases and cirrhotic liver cells near cancer of 6 patients undergoing radical resection of liver cancers. The results were compared with those in 5 specimens of normal liver tissue and 3 specimens of normal liver cells.


RESULTS
The binding capacity of growth hormone receptors in human cirrhotic liver tissues was significant lower than that in normal control [RT, (22.4 +/- 5.0) fmol/mg protein, n = 32 versus (41.3 +/- 5.3) fmol/mg protein, n = 5; P < 0.05] and decreased further along with the aggravation of cirrhosis (P < 0.05). The number of binding sites of growth hormone receptors in human cirrhotic liver cells were significantly lower than that in normal control [Site, (2.40 +/- 0.93) x 10(4)/cell, n = 6 versus (4.68 +/- 1.14) x 10(4)/cell, n = 3; P < 0.05]. The expression of growth hormone receptor mRNA in human cirrhotic liver tissues was significant lower than that in normal control [riOD, 30.8% +/- 8.2%, n = 32 versus 44.93% +/- 6.25%, n = 5; P < 0.05] and decreased further along with the aggregation of cirrhosis (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of growth hormone receptor in human cirrhotic liver cells is downregulated. The more severe liver cirrhosis the more the downregulation. The decreased expression of growth hormone receptor mRNA may account for the downregulated expression of growth hormone receptor in cirrhotic liver tissues.
Wang
Hongtao
H
Department of Hepato-biliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Chen
Shuang
S
Ou
Qingjia
Q
Deng
Meihai
M
Liu
Xiaoping
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin