Glycosylation of urinary prostate-specific antigen in benign hyperplasia and cancer: assessment by lectin-binding patterns.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we examined the glycosylation of urinary prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) subjects, specifically looking at alterations in its oligosaccharide chain as a potential biomarker of these pathophysiological conditions.


METHODS
First morning urine voids were collected from subjects with PCa and BPH before initiation of any treatment. Urinary PSA was characterized by ion-exchange chromatography, followed by lectin affinity chromatography on the columns using immobilized plant lectins.


RESULTS
Four isoforms of urinary PSA from both BPH and PCa samples were separated by ion-exchange chromatography. The elution profiles from lectin-affinity columns reflected molecular heterogeneity of PSA isoforms and the main differences observed were in the reactivity to Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Aleuria aurantia agglutinin, Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin and Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed differences in the lectin reactivities between BPH PSA and PCa PSA may be of clinical importance in the evaluation of prostate health.
Janković
Miroslava M
MM
Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy--INEP, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. miraj@inep.co.yu
Kosanović
Maja M
MM
D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D037102:Lectins; D008024:Ligands; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen