A new cause of stomach cancer
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The loss of just one protein can provoke stomach polyps, and then a tumor, scientists from Israel unexpectedly found out. And there is no way to compensate for this condition yet.
Scientists from Beth Israel Medical Center have proven that the loss of a barrier protein called claudine 18 contributes to the development of stomach cancer. If a deficiency is detected in a patient with an already diagnosed tumor, it signals a poor prognosis for the spread of cancer, according to the center's website (Loss of Tight Junction Protein Promotes Development of Precancerous Cells).
Claudin 18 is one of the components of multi–protein complexes that serve as a barrier in human epithelial tissues, including the skin and intestinal mucosa.
In the experiment, the team analyzed the stomach tissues of mice infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which had previously been associated with the development of a tumor. For comparison, a group of genetically modified rodents with a deficiency of the protein claudin 18 was studied.
Experience has shown that mice infected with the bacterium lost protein much faster than rodents from the second group. However, the deficiency of claudine 18 led to disappointing results in any case.
The loss of protein provoked the development of precancerous cells and stomach polyps – the first harbingers of tumor development.
It is noteworthy that epithelial cells expressed numerous varieties of claudin 18 in protein complexes, but other molecules were unable to compensate for this loss and protect the body, the authors emphasize. The team did not expect that manipulation of just one protein could provoke a precancerous condition. Further research is needed to develop strategies to combat claudine 18 deficiency.
Article by Hagen et al. Loss of Tight Junction Protein Claudin 18 Promotes Progressive Neoplasia Development in Mouse Stomach published in the journal Gastroenterology – VM.
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