Metallothionein and its isoform genes expression in the human pancreatic cancer cell strains and their function / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the expression of metallothionein (MT) genes and proteins in six human pancreatic cancer cell strains and two human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell strains and to explore the relationship between the expression of the MT and pancreatic cancer cell chemo-resistance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the MT isoform-specific mRNA, and cadmium/hemoglobin saturation-electrochemistry to determine MT protein levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MT protein expression in the pancreatic cancer cell strains was encoded by MT-1A, MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1F, MT-1G, MT-1X, and MT-2A genes. The expression of MT proteins was upregulated and MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1X, MT-2A genes overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell lines (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expressions of MT proteins and genes correlate with the proliferation and chemoresistance of human pancreatic cancer cell strains.</p>