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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
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Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration
Published on: May 11, 2016
Prostate-specific membrane antigen expression in regeneration and repair
Ilyssa O Gordon1, Maria S Tretiakova, Amy E Noffsinger
1Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Summary
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is found in noncancerous blood vessels of healing tissues, including endometrium and granulation tissue. This discovery impacts understanding of blood vessel growth and PSMA-targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a known marker in prostate cancer.
- Its expression in nonneoplastic neovasculature is not well understood.
- PSMA's role in physiological angiogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of PSMA-expressing neovasculature in various nonneoplastic human tissues.
- To determine if PSMA is expressed in reparative, regenerative, and preneoplastic conditions.
- To explore the potential role of PSMA in angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining for PSMA (3E6 antibody) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
- Tissues examined included keloids, granulation tissue (heart valves, pleura), endometrium (proliferative, secretory), and Barrett's mucosa (with/without dysplasia).
- Quantification of PSMA-positive vessels in each tissue type.
Main Results:
- PSMA was highly expressed in endometrial neovasculature across all phases (100%).
- Granulation tissue vessels showed significant PSMA expression (83% pleural, 70% heart valves).
- Keloids exhibited lower PSMA expression (40%), while Barrett's mucosa vessels did not express PSMA.
Conclusions:
- Nonneoplastic neovasculature, particularly in proliferative endometrium and granulation tissue, expresses PSMA.
- This is the first study demonstrating PSMA in physiological regenerative and reparative neovasculature.
- PSMA's folate hydrolase activity may promote angiogenesis; findings inform anti-PSMA therapy development.
