Expression of the pantumour Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen in the human placenta with the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole.
BACKGROUND
The Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen (or, more precisely, epitope, Galbeta1-3GalNAc) has long been known as a pancarcinoma antigen. Specific carrier proteins of the TF-antigen are the mucins, in particular Mucin 1. Here, we present our results of immunohistochemical identification of this carbohydrate antigen in human placenta.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded placental and decidual tissues from patients with the diagnosis hydatidiform mole were incubated with different monoclonal antibodies directed against TF-epitope (CD 176, IgM) and against Mucin 1 (CD 227, IgG).


RESULTS
No expression of the TF-antigen or of Mucin 1 (Muc 1) was found in the decidual tissues, but the samples of chorionic tissues were TF- and Muc 1-antigen positive. As positive control, placental samples of the first trimester were investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
A disorder of the extravillous trophoblast cells is present in hydatidiform mole.
Richter
D U
DU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Rostock, Südring 81, 18059 Rostock, Germany. dagmar.richter@kliniksued-rostock.de
Jeschke
U
U
Makovitzky
J
J
Gerber
B
B
Briese
V
V
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D018396:Mucin-1; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen