Early Detection of Mesothelioma Lies in HMGB1 Isoforms

An international research team is exploring how variants of an important blood protein could be the key to prevention and early detection of malignant mesothelioma. Dr. Haining Yang at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center is leading the research and recently presented potential strategies at the 6th International Symposium on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Previously, Yang and her team showed how the High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) protein sparks the proliferation and survival of cancerous mesothelioma cells. Yang and colleagues recently discovered that isoforms or “protein variants” of HMGB1 could be a key to early detection of the asbestos-related cancer. Yang’s team discovered mesothelioma cells secrete HMGB1 actively and make hyper-acetylated HMGB1 isoform for the secretion. Instead, normal mesothelial cells exposed to asbestos die, and passively release non-acetylated HMGB1. “Mesothelioma cancer patients have the hyper-acetylated isoform of HMGB1 in their blood,” Yang told Asbestos.com. “People exposed to asbestos who do not have cancer yet, have instead, high amounts of HMGB1, but the isoform is non-acetylated.” Importance of HMGB1 Protein in Mesothelioma Typically, asbestos fibers cause cell death in human mesothelial cells. These cells comprise the mesothelium membranes that line the pleura, pericardium and peritoneum. Previous research from Yang’s team shows crocidolite, the most carcinogenic type of asbestos, caused a high percentage of cell...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: early detection of mesothelioma early diagnosis of mesothelioma early mesothelioma diagnosis hmgb1 isoforms malignant pleural mesothelioma mesothelioma research mesothelioma survival Source Type: news