The ratio of Matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA is higher in colorectal cancer adenomas and carcinomas than corresponding tissue from control individuals

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 176
• Main Authors: Vogel, Lotte K, Saebø, Mona, Skjelbred, Camilla F, Abell, Kathrine, Pedersen, Esben D K, Vogel, Ulla, Kure, Elin H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.07.2006; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adenoma - metabolism; Adenoma - pathology; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - pathology; Case-Control Studies; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - analysis; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Serine Endopeptidases - analysis; Serine Endopeptidases - metabolism
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-176

It has recently been shown that overexpression of the serine protease, matriptase, in transgenic mice causes a dramatically increased frequency of carcinoma formation. Overexpression of HAI-1 and matriptase together changed the frequency of carcinoma formation to normal. This suggests that the ratio of matriptase to HAI-1 influences the malignant progression. The aim of this study has been to determine the ratio of matriptase to HAI-1 mRNA expression in affected and normal tissue from individuals with colorectal cancer adenomas and carcinomas as well as in healthy individuals, in order to determine at which stages a dysregulated ratio of matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA is present during carcinogenesis. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we have determined the mRNA levels for matriptase and HAI-1 in colorectal cancer tissue (n = 9), severe dysplasia (n = 15), mild/moderate dysplasia (n = 21) and in normal tissue from the same individuals. In addition, corresponding tissue was examined from healthy volunteers (n = 10). Matriptase and HAI-1 mRNA levels were normalized to beta-actin. Matriptase mRNA level was lower in carcinomas compared to normal tissue from healthy individuals (p < 0.01). In accordance with this, the matriptase mRNA level was also lower in adenomas/carcinomas combined as compared to their adjacent normal tissue (p < 0.01). HAI-1 mRNA levels in both normal and affected tissue from individuals with severe dysplasia or carcinomas and in affected tissue with mild/moderate dysplasia were all significantly lower than mRNA levels observed in corresponding tissue from healthy control individuals. HAI-1 mRNA was lower in carcinomas as compared to normal tissue from healthy individuals (p < 0.001). HAI-1 mRNA levels were significantly lower in tissue displaying mild/moderate (p < 0.001) and severe (p < 0.01) dysplasia compared to normal tissue from the same patients. Both adenomas and carcinomas displayed a significantly different matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA ratio than corresponding normal tissue from healthy control individuals (p < 0.05). In addition statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) could be observed between mild/moderate and severe adenomas and their adjacent normal tissue. Our results show that dysregulation of the matriptase/HAI-1 mRNA ratio occurs early during carcinogenesis. Future studies are required to clarify whether the dysregulated matriptase/HAI-1 ratio was causing the malignant progression or is a consequence of the same.