Expression of hepcidin and other iron-regulatory genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical implications.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess expression of ten iron-regulatory genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical implications.


METHODS
We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure ten iron-regulatory genes' mRNA and Perls' stain to assess iron stores in 50 HCCs and adjacent nontumor specimens. We compared the differences of gene expression and iron stores between tumor and nontumor specimens, and analyzed the relationships of gene expression with hepatic iron stores, patients' hemoglobin levels and clinicopathologic parameters.


RESULTS
Hepcidin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and transferrin receptor 2 were downregulated, while transferrin receptor 1 was upregulated in HCC. Hepcidin was markedly decreased in HCC but still correlated with hepatic iron stores. Iron-regulatory genes varied in their relationships of expression with clinicopathologic parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Altered expression of iron-regulatory genes in HCC may disturb patient's iron balance. Hepcidin may play a role in defending the body against HCC.
Tseng
Hsi-Huang
HH
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chang
Jan-Gowth
JG
Hwang
Yaw-Huei
YH
Yeh
Kun-Tu
KT
Chen
Yao-Li
YL
Yu
Hsin-Su
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D035925:Iron-Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014168:Transferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D035925:Iron-Regulatory Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin