Abstract
UN1 antigen (Ag), a 100-120 kDa sialoglycoprotein, was initially identified on immature thymocytes (CD3(dim)), a small subpopulation of CD4(+) peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, on leukemic T-cell lines and in fetal thymus. Biochemical analysis of the Ag has identified molecular features that are characteristic of cell-membrane-associated mucin-like glycoproteins. To investigate the biological role and the potential usefulness of the Ag, we have more extensively studied the pattern of UN1 Ag expression in a panel of fetal tissues, at different gestational ages, and on adult normal and tumor specimens. In the fetal samples examined by immunohistochemistry, including intestine, liver, lung and adrenal gland, we found that UN1 Ag is widely expressed during early stages of fetal development and down-regulated during ontogenesis. Very poor or not detectable expression of UN1 Ag was found at late gestational age. Immunohistochemical, Western blot and flow cytometric analysis of a panel of normal adult tissues and benign lesions failed to find Ag expression, whereas UN1 Ag was highly detectable in a variety of cancer specimens from breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynaecological malignancies and melanomas. Based on these data UN1 Ag, for the wide expression on fetal tissues, the down-regulation during ontogeny and the re-expression in cancer cells, may be considered a novel oncofetal Ag of interest for biological investigation and clinical applications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 707-711 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | International Journal of Oncology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2002 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
Cite this
Fetal ontogeny and tumor expression of the early thymic antigen UN1. / Tassone, Pierfrancesco; Tuccillo, Franca; Bonelli, Patrizia; D'Armiento, Francesco P.; Bond, Heather M.; Palmieri, Camillo; Tagliaferri, Piersandro; Venuta, Salvatore.
In: International Journal of Oncology, Vol. 20, No. 4, 04.2002, p. 707-711.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Fetal ontogeny and tumor expression of the early thymic antigen UN1.
AU - Tassone, Pierfrancesco
AU - Tuccillo, Franca
AU - Bonelli, Patrizia
AU - D'Armiento, Francesco P.
AU - Bond, Heather M.
AU - Palmieri, Camillo
AU - Tagliaferri, Piersandro
AU - Venuta, Salvatore
PY - 2002/4
Y1 - 2002/4
N2 - UN1 antigen (Ag), a 100-120 kDa sialoglycoprotein, was initially identified on immature thymocytes (CD3(dim)), a small subpopulation of CD4(+) peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, on leukemic T-cell lines and in fetal thymus. Biochemical analysis of the Ag has identified molecular features that are characteristic of cell-membrane-associated mucin-like glycoproteins. To investigate the biological role and the potential usefulness of the Ag, we have more extensively studied the pattern of UN1 Ag expression in a panel of fetal tissues, at different gestational ages, and on adult normal and tumor specimens. In the fetal samples examined by immunohistochemistry, including intestine, liver, lung and adrenal gland, we found that UN1 Ag is widely expressed during early stages of fetal development and down-regulated during ontogenesis. Very poor or not detectable expression of UN1 Ag was found at late gestational age. Immunohistochemical, Western blot and flow cytometric analysis of a panel of normal adult tissues and benign lesions failed to find Ag expression, whereas UN1 Ag was highly detectable in a variety of cancer specimens from breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynaecological malignancies and melanomas. Based on these data UN1 Ag, for the wide expression on fetal tissues, the down-regulation during ontogeny and the re-expression in cancer cells, may be considered a novel oncofetal Ag of interest for biological investigation and clinical applications.
AB - UN1 antigen (Ag), a 100-120 kDa sialoglycoprotein, was initially identified on immature thymocytes (CD3(dim)), a small subpopulation of CD4(+) peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, on leukemic T-cell lines and in fetal thymus. Biochemical analysis of the Ag has identified molecular features that are characteristic of cell-membrane-associated mucin-like glycoproteins. To investigate the biological role and the potential usefulness of the Ag, we have more extensively studied the pattern of UN1 Ag expression in a panel of fetal tissues, at different gestational ages, and on adult normal and tumor specimens. In the fetal samples examined by immunohistochemistry, including intestine, liver, lung and adrenal gland, we found that UN1 Ag is widely expressed during early stages of fetal development and down-regulated during ontogenesis. Very poor or not detectable expression of UN1 Ag was found at late gestational age. Immunohistochemical, Western blot and flow cytometric analysis of a panel of normal adult tissues and benign lesions failed to find Ag expression, whereas UN1 Ag was highly detectable in a variety of cancer specimens from breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynaecological malignancies and melanomas. Based on these data UN1 Ag, for the wide expression on fetal tissues, the down-regulation during ontogeny and the re-expression in cancer cells, may be considered a novel oncofetal Ag of interest for biological investigation and clinical applications.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036550631&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 11894113
AN - SCOPUS:0036550631
VL - 20
SP - 707
EP - 711
JO - International Journal of Oncology
JF - International Journal of Oncology
SN - 1019-6439
IS - 4
ER -