mRNA expression of three glycosyltransferases in human hepatoma tissues

Background: The sugar-chain structures of many glycoproteins are altered in the hepatoma tissues. The molecular mechanism by which these alterations o ccur remains largely unknown. Methods: Messeger RNA expression of N-acetylg lucosaminyltransferase (GlcNAcT-V), N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (Gl cNAcT-III) and alpha 1-6 fucosyltransferase (alpha1-6 FucT), were investiga ted in normal liver tissues samples (n = 7), primary hepatic cancer WHO tis sues (n = 15) and noncancerous tissues surrounding PHC (n = 15) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: The mRNA express ion of the three glycosyltransferases in PHC tissues were enhanced by 3- to 10-fold in comparison with that in normal liver tissues. There were signif icantly higher mRNA expressions of GlcNAcT-V in invasive PHC than non-invas ive. Conclusions: The change of glycoprotein sugar-chain structures in PHC may be related to the abnormal mRNA expression of some glycosyltransferases and the levels of mRNA expression of GicNAcT-V associated with PHC invasiv eness. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.