Open AccessExpression of alpha-thymosins in human tissues in normal and abnormal growth.
Author(s) -
O.E. Tsitsiloni,
J. Stiakakis,
A. Koutselinis,
J Gogas,
Christos Markopoulos,
P.P. Yialouris,
Stathis Bekris,
Dimitris Panoussopoulos,
V. Kiortsis,
Wolfgang Voelter
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.90.20.9504
Subject(s) - alpha (finance) , endocrinology , medicine , radioimmunoassay , biology , cell growth , spleen , biochemistry , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
Radioimmunoassays specific for the N and C termini of human prothymosin alpha and the N terminus of human parathymosin alpha were employed for the measurement of the levels of alpha-thymosins in human thymus, spleen, and liver during normal growth and intestine and breast in malignant growth. A differential expression of the two alpha-thymosins was observed in thymus (prothymosin alpha-rich) and liver (parathymosin alpha-rich). A decline in the levels of both alpha-thymosins was found with age, with prothymosin alpha in thymus showing the sharpest change (15- to 30-fold). The levels of both alpha-thymosins were higher in malignant tissues as compared with healthy ones. In breast cancer, in particular, the mean increase for prothymosin alpha and parathymosin alpha was 17.9- and 11.5-fold, respectively. The major crossreactive material was characterized in all cases as intact prothymosin alpha and parathymosin alpha. These results suggest an in vivo relationship of the expression of alpha-thymosins with the human tissue cell proliferation activity.