Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 78, 1536-1539, Copyright © 1994 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Glandular kallikreins and prostate-specific antigen are expressed in the human endometrium

J Clements and A Mukhtar
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Glandular or tissue kallikrein and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are members of the human kallikrein (KLK) multigene family of enzymes. Various components of the glandular kallikrein-kinin system (kallikrein, low molecular weight kininogen, bradykinin) have been recently shown to be present or active in the human endometrium. We have used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with universal KLK primers to demonstrate kallikrein gene expression in this tissue. On Southern blot analysis with gene-specific oligonucleotide probes, we have detected expression of the three human KLK genes--KLK1 (kallikrein), KLK2 (or hGK1) and KLK3 (PSA). The expression of KLK1 and KLK3 was further confirmed by sequence analysis of three different endometrial PCR products. These findings confirm the presence of a local kallikrein-kinin system in the human endometrium. The significance of the novel expression of KLK2 and KLK3 (PSA), previously thought to be prostate-specific genes, in the endometrium is unclear. This family of enzymes must now be considered potential local regulators of uterine function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Vaisanen, S. Eriksson, K. K. Ivaska, H. Lilja, M. Nurmi, and K. Pettersson Development of Sensitive Immunoassays for Free and Total Human Glandular Kallikrein 2 Clin. Chem., September 1, 2004; 50(9): 1607 - 1617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. F. Shariat, M. W. Kattan, S. Erdamar, C. Nguyen, P. T. Scardino, D. M. Spencer, T. M. Wheeler, and K. M. Slawin Detection of Clinically Significant, Occult Prostate Cancer Metastases in Lymph Nodes Using a Splice Variant-Specific RT-PCR Assay for Human Glandular Kallikrein J. Clin. Oncol., April 1, 2003; 21(7): 1223 - 1231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ylikoski, K. Pettersson, J. Nurmi, K. Irjala, M. Karp, H. Lilja, T. Lovgren, and M. Nurmi Simultaneous Quantification of Prostate-specific Antigen and Human Glandular Kallikrein 2 mRNA in Blood Samples from Patients with Prostate Cancer and Benign Disease Clin. Chem., August 1, 2002; 48(8): 1265 - 1271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Aksoy, F. Akcay, Z. Umudum, A. K. Yildirim, and R. Memisogullari Changes of PSA Concentrations in Serum and Saliva of Healthy Women during the Menstrual Cycle Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci., January 1, 2002; 32(1): 31 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Stephan, K. Jung, M. Lein, P. Sinha, D. Schnorr, and S. A. Loening Molecular Forms of Prostate-specific Antigen and Human Kallikrein 2 as Promising Tools for Early Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2000; 9(11): 1133 - 1147. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Becker, T. Piironen, J. Kiviniemi, H. Lilja, and K. Pettersson Sensitive and Specific Immunodetection of Human Glandular Kallikrein 2 in Serum Clin. Chem., February 1, 2000; 46(2): 198 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Malatesta, F. Mannello, F. Luchetti, F. Marcheggiani, L. Condemi, S. Papa, and G. Gazzanelli Prostate-Specific Antigen Synthesis and Secretion by Human Placenta: A Physiological Kallikrein Source during Pregnancy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 317 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Magklara, A. Scorilas, C. Lopez-Otin, F. Vizoso, A. Ruibal, and E. P. Diamandis Human Glandular Kallikrein in Breast Milk, Amniotic Fluid, and Breast Cyst Fluid Clin. Chem., October 1, 1999; 45(10): 1774 - 1780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ylikoski, M. Sjoroos, A. Lundwall, M. Karp, T. Lovgren, H. Lilja, and A. Iitia Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay with an Internal Standard for the Detection of Prostate-specific Antigen mRNA Clin. Chem., September 1, 1999; 45(9): 1397 - 1407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Chan, M. B. Harvey, and J. A. Clements Temporal and Tissue-Specific Expression of Kallikrein (Klk) Genes and Identification of a Novel Klk Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Transcript during Early Development in the Mouse Biol Reprod, September 1, 1999; 61(3): 621 - 628. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Murone, S. Y. Chai, W. Müller-Esterl, F. A. O. Mendelsohn, and J. Clements Localization of Bradykinin B2 Receptors in the Endometrium and Myometrium of Rat Uterus and the Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone Endocrinology, July 1, 1999; 140(7): 3372 - 3382. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F. Mannello, M. Malatesta, E. Fusco, G. Bianchi, A. Cardinali, and G. Gazzanelli Biochemical Characterization and Immunolocalization of Prostate-specific Antigen in Human Term Placenta Clin. Chem., August 1, 1998; 44(8): 1735 - 1737. [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Zarghami, L. Grass, E. R. Sauter, and E. P. Diamandis Prostate-specific antigen in serum during the menstrual cycle Clin. Chem., October 1, 1997; 43(10): 1862 - 1867. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-D. Shan, K. Porvari, M. Ruokonen, A. Karhu, V. Launonen, P. Hedberg, J. Oikarinen, and P. Vihko Steroid-Involved Transcriptional Regulation of Human Genes Encoding Prostatic Acid Phosphatase, Prostate-Specific Antigen, and Prostate-Specific Glandular Kallikrein Endocrinology, September 1, 1997; 138(9): 3764 - 3770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Mannello, M. Sebastiani, S. Amati, and G. Gazzanelli Prostate-specific antigen expression in a case of intracystic carcinoma of the breast: characterization of immunoreactive protein and literature surveys Clin. Chem., August 1, 1997; 43(8): 1448 - 1454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Mannello, G. Miragoli, G. Bianchi, and G. Gazzanelli Immunoreactive Prostate-Specific Antigen in Pleural Effusions Clin. Chem., May 1, 1997; 43(5): 847 - 848. [Full Text]

				E. Corey, E. W. Arfman, A. Y. Liu, and R. L. Vessella Improved reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction protocol with exogenous internal competitive control for prostate-specific antigen mRNA in blood and bone marrow Clin. Chem., March 1, 1997; 43(3): 443 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Herrala, R. Kurkela, K. Porvari, R. Isomaki, P. Henttu, and P. Vihko Human prostate-specific glandular kallikrein is expressed as an active and an inactive protein Clin. Chem., February 1, 1997; 43(2): 279 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]