Alternative splicing of human NT5E in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma produces a negative regulator of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73).

ABSTRACT: Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73), encoded by NT5E, is the major enzymatic source of extracellular adenosine. CD73 controls numerous pathophysiological responses and is a potential disease target, but its regulation is poorly understood. We examined NT5E regulation by alternative splicing. Genomic database analysis of human transcripts led us to identify NT5E-2, a novel splice variant that was expressed at low abundance in normal human tissues but was significantly up-regulated in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NT5E-2 encodes a shorter CD73 isoform we named CD73S. The presence of CD73S protein, which lacks 50 amino acids, was detected in HCC using an isoform-specific antibody. A noncanonical mouse mRNA, similar to human CD73S, was observed, but the corresponding protein was undete

SUBMITTER: Snider NT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4263446 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature