title: Comparative analysis of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene expression levels in peripheral blood leukocytes and in liver with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters comprise a superfamily of similar proteins involved in transmembrane transport of various substances. ABC transporter family members in the liver participate in bile formation and lipid metabolism. In order to assess whether peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) are available as a surrogate for determination of the expression of ABC transporter genes in the liver, we compared ABC transporter gene expression levels in PBL with those in liver tissues from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We measured ABCA1, A2, B1-B4, C1 degrees C5, G1 and G2 gene expression levels in PBL, and cancerous and non-cancerous portions of liver from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by means of real time reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR. We could not detect ABCC5 expression in any tissue of the liver. Close correlations between ABCA2, C1 and G1 in PBL and in non-tumor tissues of the liver were found. Compared with the non-tumor part, HCC tissue expressed lower levels of ABCA1, B4 and G2. We think monitoring of ABCA2, C1 and G1 gene expression levels in PBL will be useful for selection of anti-cancer agents and monitoring of drug resistance of HCC. Administration of chemotherapeutic agents which are substrates of ABCA1, B4 and G2 should be effective for the treatment of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Mohsen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: Masuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Shinsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Motonobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikai
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters