Correlation between .BETA.1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V and differentiation of gastric cancer

Objective To explore the expression of β1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (MGAT5) in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissues and its correlation with the differentiation of gastric cancer.Methods The protein level of MGAT5 in human gastric cancer cell lines was detected by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.The present study included a total of 213 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone curative gastrectomy at Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University between January 2001 and December 2008 without any chemotherapy or radiation therapy before surgery.Specimens of gastric cancer (n =213) and peritumor (n =97) tissues were stained using immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of MGAT5.Results The mRNA and protein levels of MGAT5 expression was higher in N87 (well differentiated gastric cancer cell line) and SGC7901 (moderately differentiated gastric cancer cell line) than in AGS (poorly differentiated gastric cancer cell line) and HGC27 (undifferentiated gastric cancer cell line).The expression of MGAT5 was decreased gradually with the decreased differentiation of gastric cancer.There was significant correlation between MGAT5 expression and differentiation of gastric cancer (Immunohistochemistry score:6.88 ± 3.54vs.11.13±0.78,10.11 ±l.05,9.08±3.23;P＜0.001).Conclusion The low expression of MGAT5 was significantly correlated with the dedifferentiation of gastric cancer. Key words: Stomach carcinoma;  Differentiation;  β1,6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V