Expression of blood group-related carbohydrate antigens in normal human pancreatic tissue.
The expression of type 1, 2 and 3 chain carbohydrate structures in 15 normal pancreata was investigated by immunohistochemical methods using well-defined monoclonal antibodies. Surgical biopsies of pancreata were obtained from kidney donors while the organs were still perfused. Type 1 chain structures were abundantly expressed including monosialylated(ms)- and disialylated(ds)-Le(a) antigens, which have previously been associated with cancer. Type 2 chain structures were represented by H and Le(y) antigens and to a lesser extent by the precursor structure N-acetyllactosamine, whereas Le(x), dimeric Le(x), and ms-Le(x) were only sporadically observed, in contrast to fetal pancreatic tissue, in which Le(x) has been found to be abundantly expressed. H chain 3 antigen was found in nearly all specimens, whereas precursor structures Tn, sial-Tn and T antigens were absent. Desialylation unmasked the T antigen in all specimens. Absence/masking of Tn, T and related antigens is of special interest, since these antigens are associated with tumor development in other tissues, and may be of importance in pancreatic cancer diagnostics in the future.
Department F of Medicine, University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark.
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EK
Philipsen
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Jørgensen
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Dabelsteen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens