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Elevated creatine kinase activity in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Georg Meffert1, Frank N Gellerich, Raimund Margreiter
1Department of General and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. GMeffert@gmx.ch <GMeffert@gmx.ch>
BMC Gastroenterology
|March 8, 2005
Summary
Creatine kinase (CK) is not significantly expressed in normal liver or most liver diseases. Misconceptions may arise from adenylate kinase (AdK) interference, but CK may play a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Inconsistent findings exist regarding creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes in mammalian liver cells.
- CK expression may be induced by metabolic and energetic stress, contributing to confusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific activities and isoenzyme patterns of CK and adenylate kinase (AdK) in pathological liver tissue.
- To clarify the role of CK isoenzymes in liver pathologies, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of specific activities and isoenzyme patterns of CK and AdK.
- Examination of pathological liver tissue from patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.
Main Results:
- The brain-type, cytosolic BB-CK isoenzyme was detected in all analyzed liver specimens.
- Increased CK activity and mitochondrial CK (Mi-CK) were observed only in two primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue samples.
- Findings do not support significant CK expression in normal liver or most liver pathologies.
Conclusions:
- Previous misconceptions regarding CK in liver tissue may be due to adenylate kinase (AdK) isoenzyme interference.
- A potential interplay between p53 mutations, HCC, CK expression, and cyclocreatine's effects on HCC growth is suggested.
- These results may offer insights into improved therapies for HCC.