title: Squamous cell carcinoma antigen-1 (SERPINB3) polymorphism in chronic liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serpin squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA, SERPINB3) has been found over-expressed in primary liver cancer and at lower extent in cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. A novel SCCA-1 variant (SCCA-PD), presenting a single mutation in the reactive centre (Gly351Ala), has been recently identified (rs3180227).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore SCCA-1 polymorphism in patients with HCV infection as single etiologic factor and different extent of liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourty-eight patients with chronic HCV infection (45 chronic hepatitis, 53 cirrhosis, 50 HCC) and 50 controls were evaluated. SCCA-1 polymorphism was studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism and confirmed randomly by direct sequencing. Circulating SCCA-IgM complex was determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCCA-PD was detected with higher frequency in cirrhotic patients (45.3%, odds ratio=2.62; 95%CI 1.13-6.10, p=0.038) than in patients with chronic hepatitis or in controls (24.4% and 24%, respectively). Intermediate figures were found in hepatocarcinoma (36.0%). SCCA-IgM in serum was lower in patients carrying SCCA-PD than in wild type patients and the difference was statistically significant in cirrhotic patients (mean+/-S.D.=117.45+/-54.45 U/ml vs. 268.52+/-341.27 U/ml, p=0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly identified SCCA-PD variant was more frequently found in liver cirrhosis, suggesting that patients carrying this polymorphism are more prone to develop progressive liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turato
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ruvoletto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biasiolo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tono
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernardinello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beneduce
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fassina
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavalletto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chemello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontisso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015843:Serpins; C051072:squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen