title: Expression of hepcidin and other iron-regulatory genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical implications.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsi-Huang
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Jan-Gowth
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yaw-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kun-Tu
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Yao-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsin-Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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