EXPRESSION OF THE OLINKED NACETYLGLUCOSAMINE CONTAINING EPITOPE H OGLCNACH IN BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA BPH

Abstract

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Background. Epitope H contains an O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine residue (O-GlcNAcH) in a specific conformation and/or environment recognized by the site specific mouse monoclonal igM antibody H (mabH). Epitope H is present in several types of cells and in several polypeptides including keratin 8 and vimentin in the latter in cells under stress. The post-translational modification of the hydroxyl groups of serine and threonine residues of polypeptides by the addition of the sugar moiety N-Acetylglucosamine occurs in many proteins, which are engaged in cell processes such as transcription, translation, protein compartmentalization, proteasomal degradation, which influence cell division, differentiation, development, apoptosis, resistance to stress, and are involved in major diseases such as cancer. Aim. In the present work we examined the expression of the O-GlcNAcH in the cells of fifty cases of BPH. Material and Methods. Indirect immunoperoxidase using the mabH. RESULTS: A) The luminal epithelial cells of the acini showed low expression of the epitope as the great majority of the cells remained unstained. The minority of stained cells showed the following patterns: Stained coarse granules in the cytoplasm and/or diffuse stain of the late ral, apical and subnuclear cytoplasmicregions. B) The basal acini cells showed low expression with the minority of stained cells with diffuse cytoplasmic stain. C) Practically all smooth muscle cells showed strong diffuse cytoplasmic stain. D) The inactive fibrocytes remained unstained. Conclusions. The (O-GlcNAcH) is expressed in a different pattern among the cellular elements of BPH. The (O-GlcNAcH) expression in the luminal epithelial cells of the acini can be served as a base reference in order to compare the (O-GlcNAcH) expression of prostatic carcinoma cells in future studies.