Quantitative analysis of mRNA encoding MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC genes: A correlation between specific mucin gene expression and sialomucin expression in non-small cell lung cancer
Journal
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
5
Pages
643-652
Date Issued
1998
Author(s)
Abstract
The expression of mucins is important for tumor invasiveness and metastasis. In our previous report (Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 1997; 155:1419-1427), non-small cell lung cancers bearing sialomucin expression tended to relapse earlier than those without sialomucin. However, it remained unclear whether the expression of sialomucin in lung cancer is caused by an abnormal glycosylation process or by the expression of a specific mucin gene product. To address this problem, we established a modified quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) analysis. RNA internal standards of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC non-tandem repeat sequences were constructed, and known copy numbers of mucin RNA internal standards were introduced into reverse transcription - polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) for each mucin gene in order to compete with native mucin gene RNA during the reaction. The RNA of Gβ-like gene (a housekeeping gene) was used as internal control for the RNA analysis. Twenty-five lung cancer tissues (13 adenocarcinomas and 12 squamous cell carcinomas) were used for analysis. Mann-Whitney rank sum test was applied to compare the expression amounts of different mucin genes in tissues. The results revealed that adenocarcinoma expressed higher amounts of MUC5AC gene than did squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.03). The expression amount of MUC5AC correlated positively with the expression status of sialomucin (P = 0.012). Further studies are anticipated to elucidate the underlying mechanism contributing to this phenomenon.
SDGs
Other Subjects
CA 15-3 antigen; messenger RNA; Muc 2 protein; mucin; mucin 5AC; primer DNA; sialomucin; tumor protein; adenocarcinoma; aged; article; comparative study; female; gene expression regulation; genetics; human; lung non small cell cancer; lung tumor; male; metabolism; methodology; middle aged; plasmid; polymerase chain reaction; squamous cell carcinoma; Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; CA-15-3 Antigen; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; DNA Primers; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Neoplasm Proteins; Plasmids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Sialomucins
Publisher
American Lung Association
Type
journal article