Proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) expression in normal laryngeal tissue and laryngeal carcinoma-The role of proton pump in laryngeal tissues

Background/Aims:

The proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) is primarily located in the parietal cells of the stomach. The proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) was also detected outside the stomach. Some studies also found H+/K+-ATPase distributed in the human larynx and suggested that acid may be produced not only by the gastric parietal cells but also by H+/K+-ATPase cells in the human larynx. Several studies have suggested that GERD or LPRD is an independent risk for laryngeal carcinoma. However, whether H+/K+ ATPase is involved in this process has not been investigated.

Methods:

We detected the gastric proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) α- and β-subunits in normal laryngeal tissues and investigated the distribution in the larynx by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. We also studied expression of the proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase) α- and β-subunits in laryngeal carcinoma and analyzed the relationship between expression of the α- and β-subunits and laryngeal carcinoma. We found the expression levels of α-subunit and β-subunit mRNA in normal epiglottic mucosa, ventricular fold mucosa, arytenoid mucosa, epiglottic cartilage, and vocal fold mucosa. Expression of (H+/K+-ATPase), either the α- or β-subunit, was significantly higher in carcinoma tissues than that in paracarcinoma tissues (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and normal laryngeal tissues (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Survival was not significantly associated with any clinicopathological parameter, including α-and β-subunit expression of (H+/K+-ATPase).

Conclusion:

H+/K+-ATPase exists in larynx and altered expression of H+/K+-ATPase may be involved in the process of laryngeal carcinogenesis.

Professor, MD, PhD Shuihong Zhou

The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University,

79 Qingchun Road, 310003

Hangzhou, China

Email: [e-mail]

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)