Relationship of active form of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase with cholesterol biosynthesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The total activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and the activity of its active form were measured in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from three patients in comparison with those in liver tissue from five control subjects. The active form significantly increased in HCC (p<0.05). However, the total activity of the reducatse was not significantly different between HCC and normal liver tissue. The rate of sterol biosynthesis significantly increased in HCC (p<0.05). Thus, enhanced synthesis of cholesterol in human HCC seems to result partly from an increase in the active form of the reductase.