Soluble N-cadherin in human biological fluids.
Classical cadherins such as E-, P- and N-cadherin are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion, and are important in embryogenesis, maintenance of tissue integrity and cancer. Proteolytic shedding of the extracellular domain results in the generation of soluble E-, P- or N-cadherin ectodomains. Circulating soluble E- and P-cadherin have been described in the serum, and elevated levels were detected in cancer patients when compared with healthy persons. Here we report the presence of soluble N-cadherin, a 90-kD protein fragment, in the serum of both healthy persons and cancer patients, using a direct ELISA and immunoprecipitation. A correlation was found between prostate specific antigen and soluble N-cadherin, and significantly elevated levels were detected in prostate cancer follow-up patients. The N-cadherin protein is neo-expressed by carcinomas of the prostate, and is responsible for epithelial to fibroblastic transition. This is reflected by the higher concentrations of soluble N-cadherin in prostate cancer patients than in healthy persons.
Derycke
Lara
L
Laboratory of Experimental Cancerology, Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
De Wever
Olivier
O
Stove
Veronique
V
Vanhoecke
Barbara
B
Delanghe
Joris
J
Depypere
Herman
H
Bracke
Marc
M
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000652:urine; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility
D015820:Cadherins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen