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.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)