title: Co-expression of Lewis y antigen with human epididymis protein 4 in ovarian epithelial carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aims of this study were to explore the molecular structural relationship between Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and Lewis y antigen by determining their expression patterns and clinical significance in ovarian epithelial carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The structural relationship between HE4 and Lewis y antigen was examined using immunoprecipitation and confocal laser scanning microscopy. HE4 and Lewis y were detected in tissues from malignant (53 cases), borderline (27 cases), benign (15 cases) and normal ovarian tissues (15 cases) using immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HE4 was present in ovarian cancer, benign tumor tissues, ovarian carcinoma cells, and culture medium, and contained Lewis y antigen. Moreover, expression of Lewis y antigen in HE4 from ovarian cancer was higher than that from benign tumor (P<0.05). HE4 possibly exists as two protein isoforms, both containing Lewis y antigen. Our immunohistochemistry data revealed significantly higher positive expression rates of HE4 in malignant ovarian tissues, compared to benign tumor and normal tissue (P<0.05), similar to Lewis y antigen levels in ovarian cancer (P<0.05). Notably, tissues displaying marked expression of HE4 simultaneously expressed high levels of Lewis y antigen. A linear correlation between the expression patterns of HE4 and Lewis y antigen was evident. Consistently, double-labeling immunofluorescence experiments illustrated co-localization of HE4 and Lewis y antigen within the same area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HE4 contains Lewis y antigen. Our results further demonstrate a close correlation between the expression levels of the two antigens, which are significantly high in ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Huiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Juanjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dawo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; C094162:Lewis Y antigen; D011506:Proteins; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2; C569698:WFDC2 protein, human
references.citation: Cancer Res. 2003 Jul 1;63(13):3695-700
references.pmid: 12839961
references.citation: Gynecol Oncol. 2008 Feb;108(2):402-8
references.pmid: 18061248
references.citation: Oncogene. 2002 Apr 18;21(17):2768-73
references.pmid: 11965550
references.citation: J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Feb 07;30:15
references.pmid: 21294926
references.citation: Biochimie. 2010 Jul;92(7):852-7
references.pmid: 20172014
references.citation: Gene. 1999 Oct 1;238(2):375-85
references.pmid: 10570965
references.citation: J Biol Chem. 2006 Feb 3;281(5):2572-7
references.pmid: 16316986
references.citation: Int J Cancer. 1996 Feb 8;65(4):406-12
references.pmid: 8621218
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2000 Jun;32(6):946-54
references.pmid: 10898315
references.citation: World J Hepatol. 2010 Apr 27;2(4):151-61
references.pmid: 21160988
references.citation: Gynecol Oncol. 2009 Jan;112(1):40-6
references.pmid: 18851871
references.citation: Oncol Rep. 2010 Mar;23(3):833-41
references.pmid: 20127027
references.citation: Cancer Res. 2005 Mar 15;65(6):2162-9
references.pmid: 15781627
references.citation: Cancer Res. 2004 Feb 1;64(3):1087-93
references.pmid: 14871842
references.citation: J Biol Chem. 2001 Nov 9;276(45):41527-42
references.pmid: 11553646
references.citation: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Mar 9;419(2):274-80
references.pmid: 22342977
references.citation: Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2010 Dec;20(9):1482-9
references.pmid: 21119363
references.citation: Hum Pathol. 2003 Oct;34(10):1016-21
references.pmid: 14608535
references.citation: Hepatology. 1995 Sep;22(3):802-7
references.pmid: 7544756
references.citation: Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2007;61:240-52
references.pmid: 17507872
references.citation: Fed Regist. 2005 Oct 4;70(191):57748-50
references.pmid: 16206426
references.citation: Tumour Biol. 2012 Feb;33(1):103-9
references.pmid: 22015929