Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Endosialin, also named as tumor endothelial marker 1 (TEM1) or CD248, is a poorly known cancer associated glycoprotein which has been found to express in different kinds of tumors, but not in normal tissues. There are several suggested functions for endosialin, but the overall function, activating mechanisms, signaling pathways and regulation are still mainly unknown. In this study the expression patterns of endosialin in human tumors was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The aims of the study were to find out the suitability of two endosialin monoclonal antibodies for immunostaining and to compare the expression of two endosialin antibodies between human tumor specimens and normal tissues. \n \nThe expression of endosialin was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Tumor specimens were processed and immunostained with two different endosialin monoclonal antibodies II-50/3 and VIII-16. The used immunostaining technique was indirect method. Secondary antibody was labeled with horseradish peroxidase. Staining intensity was investigated with light microscope and results were analyzed statistically. \n \nIn this study the results suggested that both the antibodies function well, but the overall staining intensity was bit stronger with antibody VIII-16. Moreover it was found that brain, colon and skin tissues stained more intensively than pancreatic tissues or hepatobiliary lesions. The strongest staining intensity was found in skin specimens. However endosialin functioned best in brain specimens where intense staining was observed in brain tumors and weak staining was observed in normal brain specimens. Correlation between staining intensity and different tumor grades was not found in this study. \n \nAccording to the results of this study connection between endosialin and cancer was observed. This study indicates that endosialin could possibly in future serve as a tool in development towards better cancer treatment. Whether it has potential to become a specific molecular biomarker is uncertain, because in this study specificity and other typical features of molecular biomarkers were not found.
Source: Theseus (Ammattikorkeakoulujen)
Author: Pauliina Tuomaala
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2283462799