title: [Expression of growth hormone receptor and its mRNA in cirrhotic livers].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-biliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qingjia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Meihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin