title: The expression of PTHLH in human gastric mucosa enterochromaffin-like cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrectomy may disturb the body's mineral homeostasis, with osteopenia and osteoporosis being among the late outcomes. Parathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) was detected in rat gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in 2005, and some researchers suggested that it was the hypothetical hormone gastrocalcin that is believed to lead to osteoporosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to learn whether PTHLH is expressed in human gastric ECL cells and to form a basic understanding about the relationship between PTHLH and gastrin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected normal human gastric mucosa specimens and serum samples from 28 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated weak expression of PTHLH in ECL cells at the RNA and protein levels. A low level of PTHLH expression was also found in the serum. Serum gastrin did have a significant positive correlation with the relative ratio of PTHLH mRNA to β-actin levels in gastric mucosa (rs=0.569, p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This indicates that PTHLH has a low signal expression in human gastric ECL cells and that serum gastrin levels correlate with PTHLH RNA levels in gastric mucosa. Further work is needed to evaluate the functional role of PTHLH in ECL cells and to determine whether PTHLH is gastrocalcin.
authors.affiliation: GuangDong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department for Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Road 1838, 510515, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. bullebell@163.com
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lisheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chengyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019861:Enterochromaffin-like Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005755:Gastrins; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein