Up-regulation of the amino acid transporter ATB(0,+) (SLC6A14) in carcinoma of the cervix.
OBJECTIVE
ATB(0,+) is an energy-coupled transporter for arginine and amino acid-based prodrugs. The objective of the study was to examine the expression of this transporter in cervical cancer.


METHODS
Specimens of normal ectocervical mucosa and cervical squamous cell carcinoma were used for determination of ATB(0,+) mRNA levels by RT-PCR. A commercial dot blot of paired normal cervix and cervical cancer cDNA was also used to quantify ATB(0,+) mRNA. ATB(0,+) mRNA and protein in tissue sections were analyzed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
ATB(0,+) mRNA increased 5.6-fold (P < 0.0004) in cervical cancer compared to normal cervix. This was associated with a parallel increase in ATB(0,+) protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of ATB(0,+) is minimal in normal cervix and is up-regulated in cervical cancer. The up-regulation of this highly concentrative transporter for arginine and prodrugs in cervical cancer has significant clinical and therapeutic relevance.
Gupta
Naren
N
Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Prasad
Puttur D
PD
Ghamande
Sharad
S
Moore-Martin
Pamela
P
Herdman
Anne V
AV
Martindale
Robert G
RG
Podolsky
Robert
R
Mager
Sela
S
Ganapathy
Malliga E
ME
Ganapathy
Vadivel
V
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II