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E A Herness

Publications and source records attributed to E A Herness.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Prostate-specific genes: present status and future direction.

Prostate cancer (prostatic adenocarcinoma) is the second highest cause of cancer mortality in men and the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects 80% of men by age 80. The current diagnosis of prostate cancer relies on the serum levels of the well-known molecule designated as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA, however, has limited sensitivity and specificity in appropriately detecting the earlier stages of abnormal prostate growth. Additional molecules need to be identified that are prostate-specific and have better sensitivity and specificity that can detect prostate cancer and BPH at an earlier stage for clinical management. Presently, several laboratories are actively engaged in searching for such molecules. The aim of this article is to review the current status of various prostate genes reported in the literature that have been claimed to be prostate-specific with a function in normal and abnormal prostate growth and development. The long-term objective is to define the lacunae that exist in the literature in our search for an ideal antigen.

Gene Expression Profiling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Presence and tyrosine phosphorylation of c-met receptor in human sperm.

The c-met receptor is a p190MET tyrosine kinase proto-oncoprotein that through its binding to its ligand, designated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), induces mitogenic, motogenic, and morphogenic activities in a variety of cell types. The present study was conducted to examine whether or not the c-met receptor is expressed and tyrosine phosphorylated in the human sperm cell. The Western blot analysis, using a monoclonal antibody (MAb2) directed against the extracellular domain of the c-met receptor, showed a specific band of 195 kDa corresponding to the intact c-met receptor in the detergent-solubilized human sperm preparation (HSP). This protein band was not recognized by the control myeloma lg (immunoglobin). In the immunoprecipitation procedure, a similar specific band of 195 kDa and a 145-kDa band corresponding to the beta-subunit of c-met receptor were seen. In the indirect immunofluorescence technique, the c-met receptor was localized predominantly in the acrosomal region of the sperm cell. The c-met receptor was tyrosine phosphorylated/autophosphorylated during capacitation and in the cell-free in vitro kinase assay. Incubation of human sperm with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or MAb2 to c-met receptor enhanced the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation/autophosphorylation of the c-met receptor up to 5.1-fold. These findings indicate that the c-met receptor is present in the acrosomal region of human sperm cell and is tyrosine phosphorylated, which is enhanced by HGF and the receptor antibody. The c-met system may have an important role in sperm function.

Blotting, Western↗