title: Sperm protein 17 and AKAP-associated sperm protein cancer/testis antigens are expressed in ciliated hepatic foregut cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ciliated hepatic foregut cysts (CHFCs) are retained benign lesions of the liver. However, a case of squamous cell metaplasia and five cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from a CHFC have been described. The potential of malignant transformation makes the identification of new biomarkers necessary. As the cancer/testis antigen sperm protein 17 (Sp17) has been detected in oral and oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Sp17 and AKAP-associated sperm protein (ASP), which has a shared N-terminal sequence with Sp17, in four surgically resected CHFCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHFC specimens were taken from two patients who attended the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA and two patients who attended the Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. CHFCs were found to be immunopositive for Sp17 and ASP. Both proteins were localized to the cytoplasm of ciliated cells lining the cysts, and their cilia. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Sp17 and ASP overlapped in the same region of the cell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sp17 and ASP cancer/testis antigens were found in ciliated cells of four CHFCs. Further characterization of Sp17 and ASP in patients with CHFCs may provide significant clues for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their predisposition to develop squamous cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Rozzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grizzi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Quantitative Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Rozzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Quantitative Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Rozzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Biccari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiriva-Internati
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Osipov
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernández-Aceñero
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002923:Cilia / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C470173:ROPN1L protein, human; C090172:SPA17 protein, human
keywords: AKAP-associated sperm protein; biomarkers; cilia; ciliated hepatic foregut cysts; sperm protein 17; squamous cell carcinoma