Upregulation and secretion of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in gastric cancers.
BACKGROUND
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), a distant member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily, has been reported to be upregulated and secreted from several cancers. We examined MIC-1 expression and secretion in gastric cancers.


METHODS
MIC-1 mRNA and protein levels in cancer tissues and cell lines were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot. MIC-1 expression in cancer tissues and its secretion in serum were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and ELISA.


RESULTS
MIC-1 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. MIC-1 was secreted from gastric SNU620 cells and its levels in the serum of cancer patients were 10-fold higher than those of healthy controls. In addition, the staining of MIC-1 expression was strongly increased in metastatic gastric cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
MIC-1 was obviously overexpressed in gastric cancers and MIC-1 secretion into blood may be useful for the prediction of gastric cancer progression.
Baek
Kyoung Eun
KE
Stem Cell Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Yoon
Suk Ran
SR
Kim
Jong-Tae
JT
Kim
Kwang Soo
KS
Kang
Seong Ho
SH
Yang
Young
Y
Lim
Jong-Seok
JS
Choi
Inpyo
I
Nam
Myoung Soo
MS
Yoon
Michung
M
Lee
Hee Gu
HG
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15