[Partial isoform-specific expression and function of AMPK in ovarian carcinoma]

Objective To investigate the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α, β, γ subunits in ovarian cancer and their correlations with clinicopathological features. Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of AMPKα2 (PRKAA2), AMPKβ1 (PRKAB1), PRKAB2, AMPKγ1 (PRKAG1) and PRKAG2 in both ovarian cancer and benign ovarian tumor, meanwhile immunohistochemistry staining was used to study the protein levels of AMPKα2 and AMPKβ1. The correlations between the expression of AMPKα2 and AMPKβ1 and the clinicopathological features of ovarian cancer were analyzed by Chi-square test. Results The levels of PRKAA2 and PRKAB1 mRNA in ovarian cancer were significantly higher than those in benign ovarian tumor, while the expression of PRKAB2, PRKAG1 and PRKAG2 mRNA in ovarian cancer was not significantly different from those in benign ovarian tumor. The protein level of AMPKα2 and AMPKβ1 in ovarian cancer tissues was higher than those in benign ovarian tumor tissues. Higher expressed AMPKα2 had a great relationship with the high differentiation of ovarian cancer and the incidence of unilateral ovary. The higher expression of AMPKβ1 was significantly related to the low differentiation of ovarian cancer and the incidence of bilateral ovary. Conclusion Ovarian cancer expresses higher levels of AMPKα2 and AMPKβ1, whatever at the mRNA or protein level, and the discrepancy between AMPK subunits might be related to the various functions of AMPK in multiple types of tumors.