Analysis of telomerase activity and telomere length in various liver diseases

端粒是一种位于染色体末端的重复序列，在细胞分裂和端粒酶活性的过程中缩短，可以恢复端粒排列的长度，使细胞永生化，在各种恶性肿瘤中经常被检测到。用TRAP法检测了26例肝细胞癌及其相应的非肿瘤组织和20例慢性肝炎组织的端粒酶活性。26例肿瘤组织中端粒酶阳性22例(85%)，26例相应非肿瘤组织中3例(12%)，20例慢性肝炎组织中1例(5%)。无论肿瘤大小或分化程度如何，均可在肿瘤组织中检测到端粒酶活性，并进一步对超声引导下肝活检获得的28例小肝癌的端粒酶活性进行了定量分析。25例肿瘤、3例交界性病变和28例相应的非肿瘤组织端粒酶平均活性为133.7(SY+)。[)197.3个任意单位(AU)，11.7()sy.+-。[)11.3AU和4.5(]SY+-。[)7.5AU。25例肿瘤组织中19例(76%)和3例交界性病变中1例(33%)端粒酶活性超过19.5AU，其平均值为非肿瘤组织端粒酶活性标准差的两倍，而28例非肿瘤组织中仅1例(4%)端粒酶活性高于19.5AU。大多数小肝细胞癌的端粒酶活性较强，而大多数非肿瘤性肝细胞癌的端粒酶活性几乎为零或微弱。端粒酶活性的定量检测对小肝癌的诊断有一定价值。

Telomere, a repititive sequence which resides in the end of chromosomes, shortens during cell division and telomerase activity, which can restore the length of telomere array and immortalize the cell, has been frequently detectable in various malignant tumors. We examined the telomerase activity in 26 hepatocellular carcinomas together with corresponding nontumorous tissues and 20 chronic hepatitis tissues without tumors by TRAP assay. Telomerase activity was found in 22 (85%) of 26 tumor tissues, in 3 (12%) of 26 corresponding nontumorous tissues and in one (5%) of 20 chronic hepatitis tissues. Telomerase activity was detected in tumorous tissues irrespective of the tumor size or the degree of tumor differentiation and we further analyzed quantitatively the telomerase activity in 28 small hepatocellular carcinomas obtained by ultrasonography guided liver biopsy. The mean telomerase activity in 25 tumors, in 3 borderline lesions and in 28 corresponding nontumorous tissues was 133.7(]SY.+-。[)197.3 arbitrary units (AU) , 11.7(]SY.+-。[)11.3 AU and 4.5(]SY.+-。[)7.5 AU,respectively. Nineteen (76%) of 25 tumorous tissues and one (33%) of 3 borderline lesions showed the telomerase activity over 19.5 AU,the mean value plus twice the standard deviation of the activity in nontumorous tissues, in contrast only one (4%) of 28 nontumorous tissues. The telomerase activity was strongly detected in a majority of small hepatocellular carcinoma, while almost no or faint activity was detectable in a majority of nontumorous specimens. The quantitative assay of telomerase activity was considered to be useful in the diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma.