Polyclonal antibodies against kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4): Immunohistochemical assessment of KLK4 expression in healthy tissues and prostate cancer

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lina Seiz - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Matthias Kotzsch - , Institute of Pathology (Author)
  • Nicolai I. Grebenchtchikov - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Anneke J. Geurts-Moespot - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Susanne Fuessel - , Department of Urology (Author)
  • Peter Goettig - , University of Salzburg (Author)
  • Apostolos Gkazepis - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Manfred P. Wirth - , Department of Urology (Author)
  • Manfred Schmitt - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Arndt Lossnitzer - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Fred C.G.J. Sweep - , Radboud University Nijmegen (Author)
  • Viktor Magdolen - , Technical University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

KLK4 is a member of the human kallikrein-related peptidase family of (chymo)trypsin-like serine proteases. The aim of the present study was to generate polyclonal antibodies (pAb) directed against KLK4 for the analysis of KLK4 by immunohistochemistry in human tissues. Recombinantly expressed human mature KLK4 was used for immunization of chickens. pAb 617A is an affinity-purified monospecific pAb fraction reacting with a linear epitope within a flexible surface-exposed loop of KLK4. pAb 617C is the KLK-directed pAb fraction completely depleted from pAb 617A. In healthy adult tissues, KLK4 was immunodetected by both antibody fractions in kidney, liver, and prostate, but not in other organs such as colon and lung. To evaluate protein expression of KLK4 in prostate cancer, samples of tumor tissue plus corresponding tumor-free areas of 44 prostate cancer patients, represented on a tissue microarray, were investigated. Distinct KLK4 immunostaining was observed with both antibodies in cancerous glandular epithelial cells, but not in surrounding stromal cells. KLK4 expression was lower in stage pT3+4 than in pT1+2 tumors, which was highly significant when employing pAb 617A. Thus, our results indicate that KLK4, which is expressed in the healthy prostate, is upregulated in early-stage but not late-stage prostate cancer.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)391-401
Number of pages11
Journal Biological chemistry
Volume391
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2010
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 20180634

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Immunohistochemistry, Kallikrein-related peptidase 4, KLK4, Prostase, Prostate cancer