Development and characterisation of an antibody for the immunohistochemical detection of inhibin/activin betaE (betaE) in normal human ovarian and placental tissue.
Inhibin/activin subunits are homologues to each other and belong to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of proteins. These proteins have been demonstrated to be disulphide-linked dimers, which have a common alpha-subunit but just one of two beta-subunits, differentiated in inhibin A (alpha-betaA) and in inhibin B (alpha-betaB). Recently, an additional beta-subunit has been identified, determined as betaE and being primarily synthesized in liver tissue. However, since no antibody against the betaE subunit is commercially available, limited data on histological immunodistribution of this inhibin subunit in gynaecological organs exist. Therefore, the aims of the present study were the synthesis and evaluation of a specific antibody against the inhibin-betaE subunit. In this study, we describe the characterisation of a polyclonal antibody against the inhibin-betaE subunit. This antibody demonstrated a specific reaction in both western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, we demonstrated positive immunolabelling in normal human ovary and placenta. The role of this novel subunit is intriguing, especially within the view that the other inhibin/activin subunits might have substantial functions in human reproduction and carcinogenesis. However, the function of this subunit in humans remains still unclear and warrants further research.
Mylonas
Ioannis
I
1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337 Munich, Germany. ioannis.mylonas@med.uni-muenchen.de
Makovitzky
Josef
J
Shabani
Naim
N
Gingelmaier
Andrea
A
Dian
Darius
D
Kuhn
Christina
C
Schulze
Sandra
S
Kunze
Susanna
S
Jeschke
Udo
U
Friese
Klaus
K
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000032:analysis*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*
D000906:Antibodies; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits