Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3264623 Digestive and Liver Disease 2009 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

BackgroundThe serpin squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA, SERPINB3) has been found over-expressed in primary liver cancer and at lower extent in cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. A novel SCCA-1 variant (SCCA-PD), presenting a single mutation in the reactive centre (Gly351Ala), has been recently identified (rs3180227).AimTo explore SCCA-1 polymorphism in patients with HCV infection as single etiologic factor and different extent of liver disease.MethodsOne hundred and fourty-eight patients with chronic HCV infection (45 chronic hepatitis, 53 cirrhosis, 50 HCC) and 50 controls were evaluated. SCCA-1 polymorphism was studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism and confirmed randomly by direct sequencing. Circulating SCCA–IgM complex was determined by ELISA.ResultsSCCA-PD was detected with higher frequency in cirrhotic patients (45.3%, odds ratio = 2.62; 95%CI 1.13–6.10, p = 0.038) than in patients with chronic hepatitis or in controls (24.4% and 24%, respectively). Intermediate figures were found in hepatocarcinoma (36.0%). SCCA–IgM in serum was lower in patients carrying SCCA-PD than in wild type patients and the difference was statistically significant in cirrhotic patients (mean ± S.D. = 117.45 ± 54.45 U/ml vs. 268.52 ± 341.27 U/ml, p = 0.026).ConclusionsThe newly identified SCCA-PD variant was more frequently found in liver cirrhosis, suggesting that patients carrying this polymorphism are more prone to develop progressive liver fibrosis.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Authors
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,