title: AKT plays a crucial role in gastric cancer.
abstract: The AKT protein is involved in the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signaling pathway and is a vital regulator of survival, proliferation and differentiation in various types of cells.Helicobacter pyloriinfection induces epithelial cell proliferation and oxidative stress in chronic gastritis. These alterations lead to telomere shortening, resulting in the activation of telomerase. AKT, in particular, is activated byH. pylori-induced inflammation. AKT then promotes the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase, which encodes a catalytic subunit of telomerase, and induces telomerase activity, an essential component of the process of carcinogenesis. AKT activation is increased in gastric mucosa with carcinogenic properties and is associated with the low survival of patients with gastric cancer. The findings of the present study suggest that AKT is pivotal in gastric carcinogenesis and progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Takamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuniyasu
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; chronic gastritis; hTERT; telomerase