| Theme | Pepsinogen -- Basic, Clinical Implications, and Epidemiology | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Pepsinogen -- the Gene Structure, Role of DNA Methylation and Novel Molecular Species | |
| Publish Date | 2002/10 | |
| Author | Shintaro Kitauchi | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author | Yasuhito Shimizu | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author | Kimihiko Yanaoka | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author | Hideyuki Tamai | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author | Kenji Arii | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| Author | Takashi Kageyama | The Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University |
| Author | Masao Ichinose | Second Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University |
| [ Summary ] | Three types of zymogens of pepsinogens are known: pepsinogen A, C and prochymosin. In normal human tissue, pepsinogen A mRNA was expressed only in the fundic mucosa of the stomach, whereas pepsinogen C mRNA was expressed in all regions of the stomach mucosa and also in the proximal duodenal mucosa. The distribution of this mRNA was consistent with those of pepsinogens A and C in the gastroduodenal mucosa. Methylation analysis of DNA from normal tissues revealed that pepsinogen A and C genes are hypomethylated in tissues producing pepsinogens A and C, suggesting the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of the expression of the genes for the two human pepsinogens. | |