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Expression level of glutamine synthetase is increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver tissue with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B

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Abstract

Studies have suggested that glutamine synthetase (GS) is a potential marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate the expression of GS in non-malignant liver tissue and serum GS levels in HCC, liver cirrhosis (LC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), five kinds of extrahepatic diseases patients and healthy subjects. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess GS expression in 260 liver tissue samples (from 120 HCC, 90 CHB stage 4, and 50 CHB stage 1–3 patients). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of 325 samples (from 100 healthy donors, 33 CHB stage 1–3, 43 CHB stage 4, 111 HCC, and 45 extrahepatic diseases patients) were used to further analyze GS levels in serum. IHC studies showed the expression of GS in 70% of HCC patients, 46.7% of CHB stage 4 patients and 38% of CHB stage 1–3 patients. The χ2 tests showed significant difference between HCC samples and non-tumor tissues (P = 0.001 for HCC vs. CHB stage 4, P = 0.000 for HCC vs. CHB). Consistent with this, serum GS levels are increased in HCC and CHB stage 1–4 patients. There are significant differences among all samples (P = 0.000 for all), except CHB stage 1–3 versus CHB stage 4 (P = 0.552). Based on multiple linear regressions, HCC, CHB stage 1–4 and AFP were significantly associated with serum GS levels. In addition, in HCC group, TNM and Child-Pugh were significantly associated with GS levels. Expression of GS is increased in HCC, LC, and CHB. It may be a new serum marker for liver disease.

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Abbreviations

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

GS:

Glutamine synthetase

LC:

Liver cirrhosis

CHB:

Chronic hepatitis B

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

SI:

Staining intensity

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

AUC:

Areas under the curve

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chaoyang Hospital and the Department of Surgery of Youan Hospital for hepatic tissue specimens.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China

    Jiang Long & BaoEn Wang

  2. Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China

    Jiang Long

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Affairs, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China

    Huaguang Wang

  4. Department of Pathology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China

    ZhenWei Lang

  5. Department of Pathology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China

    Tailing Wang

  6. Department of Academic Division, The Second Affiliated Hospital, MuDanJiang Medical College, Mudanjiang, 157009, China

    Mei Long

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  1. Jiang Long
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to BaoEn Wang.

Additional information

J. Long and H. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Long, J., Wang, H., Lang, Z. et al. Expression level of glutamine synthetase is increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver tissue with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B. Hepatol Int 5, 698–706 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-010-9230-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-010-9230-2

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