Erythrocyte CD38 as a prognostic marker in cancer.
BACKGROUND
Surface antigen CD38 which is a multifunctional protein with enzymatic and receptorial properties is involved in many processes of cell proliferation and activation. It is widely expressed within the hematopoetic system, and its expression is stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines. CD38-associated enzymatic activities in erythrocytes from cancer patients were investigated in this context.


METHODS
Erythrocyte NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in normal individuals and cancer patients were compared and correlation of these activities to CEA values and anemia were determined. Changes in CD38-expression were followed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of erythrocyte membrane proteins.


RESULTS
Erythrocyte NAD glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities were significantly increased in cancer, in parallel to enhancement of CD38 expression and in correlation with CEA values and anemia.


CONCLUSIONS
An increased expression of CD38 which may be due to action of proinflammatory cytokines produced in tumor-host reactions appears to account for the elevations in erythrocyte CD38-associated enzyme activities in cancer patients. The changes in these enzyme activities may provide a prognostic outlook in view of their apparently close correlation to tumor progressions.
Albeniz
Isil
I
Department of Biophysics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Istanbul, Turkey. ialbeniz@istanbul.edu.tr
Demir
Ozlem
O
Türker-Sener
Leyla
L
Yalçintepe
Leman
L
Nurten
Rüstem
R
Bermek
Engin
E
D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase / Q000032:analysis*; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009244:NAD+ Nucleosidase / Q000032:analysis*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; D009244:NAD+ Nucleosidase; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1