Skip to main content
Log in

Hepatic gluconeogenic key enzymes in patients with hepatic cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Gastroenterologia Japonica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Key enzymes of gluconeogenesis in the liver, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [EC 4.1.1.32] and glucose-6-phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.9], were studied in patients with primary or metastatic hepatic cancer. Liver specimens for enzyme assay were obtained by necropsy performed within four hours after death. It was confirmed that both enzyme activities in rat liver preserved at 4°C remained unchanged within nine hours after the removal of the tissue. Activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase decreased to below ten per cent of the control in neoplastic liver tissue of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied with liver cirrhosis. These two enzyme activities in cirrhotic tissue of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were lower than those in patients merely with cirrhosis. In patients with metastatic hepatic cancer both two enzyme activities further decreased and were scarcely detected not only in neoplastic tissue but also in non-neoplastic tissue. These results show that hepatic gluconeogenesis markedly decreases in patients with primary or metastatic hepatic cancer. The biochemical analysis of the blood in hepatic cancer, decreased in blood glucose and release in immunoreactive glucagon, also suggested the supression of gluconeogenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scrutton MC, et al: The regulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in animal tissue. Ann Rev Biochem 37: 249, 1968

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hommes FA, et al: Two cases of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase deficiency. Acta Pediatr Scand 65: 233, 1976

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Vidnes J, et al: Gluconeogenesis in infancy and childhood. III. Deficiency of the extramitochondrial form of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in a case of persistent neonatal hypoglycemia. Acta Pediatr Scand 65: 307, 1976

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. McFadzean AJS, et al: Hypoglycemia in primary carcinoma of the liver. AMA Arch Int Med 98: 720, 1956

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McFadzean AJS, et al: Further observations on hypoglycaemia in hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Med 47: 220, 1969

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gumaa KA, et al: Enzymes and intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway in liver and hepatomas. Biochim Biophys Acta 158: 300, 1968

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Weber G, et al: Operation of pleiotropic control in hormonal regulation and in neoplasia, in “Advances in Enzyme Regulation” Vol XII, Pergamon Press LTD, Oxford. 1974, p 11

    Google Scholar 

  8. Taketa K, et al: Undifferentiated patterns of key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes in injured livers. II. Human viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Enzymes 21: 200, 1976

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hammond KD, et al: Activities of key gluconeogenic enzymes and glycogen synthase in rat and human livers, hepatomas, and hepatoma cell cultures. Cancer Res 38: 1317, 1978

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Seubert W, et al: On the mechanism of gluconeogenesis and its regulation. II. The mechanism of gluconeogenesis from pyruvate and fumarate. Biochem Z 343: 176, 1965

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakagawa H, et al: Cold adaptation. I. Effect of coldexposure on gluconeogenesis. J Biochem 69: 923, 1971

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Swanson MA, et al: Glucose-6-phosphatase from liver, in “Methods in Enzymology” Vol II. ed by Colowick SP and Kaplan NO. Academic Press Inc. New York. 1955,p 541

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Itzhaki RF, et al: A micro-biuret method for estimating proteins. Anal Biochem 9: 401, 1964

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Huggett AStG, et al: Use of glucose oxidase, peroxidase, and o-dianisidine in determination of blood and urinary glucose. Lancet II: 368, 1957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wide L, et al: Radioimmunoassay of proteins with the use of sephadex-coupled antibodies. Biochim Biophys Acta 130: 257, 1966

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Block MB, et al: Circulating C-peptide immunoreactivity studies in normals and diabetic patients. Diabetes 21: 1013, 1972

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Jogensen KH, et al: Purification of125I-glucagon by anion exchange chromatography. Horm Metab Res 4: 223, 1972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Unger RH, et al: Glucagon antibodies and their use for immunoassay for glucagon. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 102: 621, 1959

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Nordlie RC, et al: Mammalian liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities. J Biol Chem 238: 2259, 1963

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Brech W, et al: Studies on pyruvate carboxylase in rat and human liver. Biochim Biophys Acta 201: 145, 1970

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Longshaw ID, et al: The effect of steroids and ammonium chloride acidosis on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in rat kidney cortex. J Clin Invest 51: 2277, 1972

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yeung RTT, et al: Hypoglycemia associated with lipid accumulation in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer 32: 1482, 1973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Unger RH, et al: Glucagon and the insulin: glucagon ratio in diabetes and other catabolic illnesses. Diabetes 20: 834, 1971

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Parrilla R, et al: Effect of glucagon: insulin ratios on hepatic metabolism. Diabetes 23: 725, 1974

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsubouchi, H., Kamibeppu, A., Fujisaki, K. et al. Hepatic gluconeogenic key enzymes in patients with hepatic cancer. Gastroenterol Jpn 15, 564–569 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773759

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773759

Key Words

Navigation