Cathepsin D gene Expression in Stomach: Its Association with Age, Sex, and Menopausal status

Gastric cancer is 2-4 folds higher in men than women. Sex hormones are one of the leading causes of sexual dimorphism in incidence of gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to compare Cathepsin D and Caspase-7 gene expressions in the gastric tissue of normal men and women.
In this cross-sectional study, gastric antrum tissue samples were collected from 21 healthy females and 21 males in the three age groups including 35, 35-50, and over 50 years. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the expressions of genes were compared between men and women via semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR method. The obtained data were analyzed, using the statistical T-Test and ANOVA.
Statical analyses confirmed that the expression of Cathepsin D gene was significantly higher in men under 35 than those in the range of 35-50 years (p=0.04). In addition, the expression of Cathepsin D gene was significantly 10 folds in pre-menopause than post-menopause women and men (post-menopause women and men as one group) (p=0.008). Furthermore, the expression of Cathepsin D gene between men and women was significant at borderline (p=0.056).
The findings of the present research indicate that the expression of Cathepsin D is higher in pre-menopause than post-menopause women and men, and is greater in men under 35 than those in the range of 35-50 years.